Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818

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English novelist, poet, and dramatist.

From the description of Autograph poem signed Lines -- on receiving an Inkstand from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, on Christmas Eve. 1813. Oatlands : Oatlands, 1813. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270591944

English novelist, poet and dramatist.

From the description of Lines Written on returning from The Funeral Of the Rt. Honble. C.J. Fox, on Friday, Octr. 10th. 1806. Addrest to Lord Holland. ... : [London] : manuscript poem signed, 1806. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270593132

From the description of On the failure of her Royal Highness's efforts to reclaim a worthless object of her bounty : autograph poem signed : [n.p.], 1803 Feb. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270593168

Author and playwright M.G. Lewis was born in London and educated at Oxford. His wealthy father had extensive holdings in Jamaica, and secured Lewis a post as attaché at the British Embassy in The Hague. Lewis preferred to be a writer, and produced the scandalous Gothic tale, The Monk, which became extremely popular and earned him the nickname Monk. His innovative use of supernatural elements and Continental themes influenced writers such as Byron, Shelley, Walter Scott, and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. He continued to write in a variety of genres, and, although his Gothic works continued to be popular, he never equalled The Monk, and he gave up writing when he inherited his father's estate.

From the description of M.G. Lewis letter to R. Peake, circa 1801. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 64707968

English novelist, dramatist, and poet.

From the description of Autograph poem signed "Albion" : [n.p.], 1806 July 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270591942

From the description of Oberon's Henchman, or The Legend of the Three Sisters, 1803. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 754866517

English novelist and poet.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Perth, to Thomas Maurice, 1798 July 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270591138

Matthew Gregory "Monk" Lewis, English novelist and playwright.

From the description of M. G. Lewis manuscript material : 3 items, ?1800-1804 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 709892092

From the guide to the M. G. Lewis manuscript material : 5 items, ?1800-1804, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.)

Epithet: author

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000497.0x0002cc

Matthew Gregory ("Monk") Lewis (July 9, 1775-May 16, 1818) was a novelist, dramatist, poet, and, from 1796-1802, an indifferent MP. He is best known today for his novel The monk (1796), though he was fairly prolific. Other successes during his lifetime include the play, The castle spectre (1798), and a volume of poetry compiled with Walter Scott and Robert Southey, Tales of wonder (1801). Lewis was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and traveled widely in Europe during his youth; he was well read in German and French literature as well as English. Lewis had literary ambitions, and although the content of his works--often sensationally crowd-pleasing and over-the-top--engendered controversy, his poetry was admired by the likes of Coleridge and Scott. At the commencement of this commonplace book, he was about 26 and probably working on his verse drama, Alfonso, King of Castile. A decade and several publications later, when it was finally filled, he was winding down his theater career by adapting his plays, The wood daemon and The East Indian, for presentation as operas, and working on the production of Timour the Tartar, his final, scandalously horse-filled, drama. His family had strong ties in the West Indies and owned slave-worked plantations in Jamaica. After inheriting his father's estates and their hundreds of slaves in 1812, Lewis ceased writing to manage the plantation concerns. He supported the abolition of the slave trade, though not of slavery itself. He kept his own slaves, but instituted a number of reforms in their treatment, taking legal steps to insure the reforms would survive his demise. Lewis died of yellow fever while returning from a voyage to Jamaica, and was buried at sea.

From the description of Scrap-book. 1801-1811. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 66274705

Biography

Matthew Gregory ("Monk") Lewis (9 July 1775-16 May 1818) was a novelist, dramatist, poet, and from 1796-1802, an indifferent MP. He is best known today for his novel The Monk (1796), though he was fairly prolific. Other successes during his lifetime include the play The Castle Spectre (1798), and a volume of poetry compiled with Walter Scott and Robert Southey, Tales of Wonder (1801). Lewis was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and traveled widely in Europe during his youth; he was well read in German and French literature as well as English. Lewis had literary ambitions, and although the content of his works – often sensationally crowd-pleasing and over-the-top – engendered controversy, his poetry was admired by the likes of Coleridge and Scott. At the commencement of this commonplace book, he was about 26 and probably working on his verse drama, Alfonso, King of Castile . A decade and several publications later, when it was finally filled, he was winding down his theater career by adapting his plays, The Wood Daemon and The East Indian, for presentation as operas, and working on the production of Timour the Tartar, his final, scandalously horse-filled, drama.

His family had strong ties in the West Indies and owned slave-worked plantations in Jamaica. After inheriting his father's estates and their hundreds of slaves in 1812, Lewis ceased writing to manage the plantation concerns. He supported the abolition of the slave trade, though not of slavery itself. He kept his own slaves, but instituted a number of reforms in their treatment, taking legal steps to insure the reforms would survive his demise. Lewis died of yellow fever while returning from a voyage to Jamaica, and was buried at sea.

From the guide to the M.G. Lewis Commonplace Book, 1801-1811?, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Oberon's Henchman, or The Legend of the Three Sisters, 1803. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Brownell, Henry Howard, 1820-1872. Papers, 1838-1871. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832. Autograph letter signed : Edinburgh, to M.G. Lewis, 1798 May 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: John Barnett papers, 1818-1889 (inclusive), 1823-1865 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Peabody, Augustus,. Polyphonic vocal music : manuscript, [ca. 1820] Houghton Library
referencedIn Louis F. Peck papers, 1789-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Early American playbills, 1750-1812. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. M. G. Lewis manuscript material : 3 items, ?1800-1804 New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. M.G. Lewis letter to R. Peake, circa 1801. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Peck, Louis F. Correspondence, 1955-1965. Houghton Library
creatorOf Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824. Lord Byron manuscript material : 173 items, 1807-1824 New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Louis F. Peck papers, 1789-1965. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Lines Written on returning from The Funeral Of the Rt. Honble. C.J. Fox, on Friday, Octr. 10th. 1806. Addrest to Lord Holland. ... : [London] : manuscript poem signed, 1806. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph letter signed : "War Office" [London], to W.J. Clark, 1777 June 23. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph letter signed : Albany, [London], to Lady Caroline Lamb, [no year] Oct. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832. Essay on popular poetry. / Sir Walter Scott. University of Florida
referencedIn Payne, John Howard, 1791-1852,. Autograph letter initialed from John Howard Payne, London, to Peter Moore, Piccadilly [manuscript], 1817 August 11. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Cocteau, Jean, 1889-1963. Le moine de M.G. Lewis raconté par Antonin Artaud [manuscript], ca. 1931 / Jean Cocteau. Indiana University
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph poem signed Lines -- on receiving an Inkstand from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, on Christmas Eve. 1813. Oatlands : Oatlands, 1813. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph letter signed : Perth, to Thomas Maurice, 1798 July 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Watson-Taylor, George, d. 1841. The old hag in a red cloak, inscribed to the author of the Grim White Woman : poem, not autograph, unsigned : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Dibdin, Thomas, 1771-1841. Of age tomorrow ballad opera collection, 1800-1801. University of Colorado, Boulder
referencedIn Louis F. Peck papers, 1789-1965. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. [Miscellaneous plays]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Letter to Miss. Emily Milner. [s.l.]. [17--] University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Chedworth, John Howe, Baron, 1754-1804,. Autograph letter signed from John Howe, Chedworth, Ipswich, to Miss Elizabeth Edmead, London [manuscript], 1802 February 1. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. On the failure of her Royal Highness's efforts to reclaim a worthless object of her bounty : autograph poem signed : [n.p.], 1803 Feb. 26. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Lord Byron manuscript material : 184 items, 1807-1824 The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.
creatorOf M. G. Lewis manuscript material : 5 items, ?1800-1804 The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.
referencedIn Dartmouth, George Legge, Earl of, 1755-1810. Letter signed as Lord Chamberlain : [London], to Mr. Hindes, 1807 Nov. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Guthke, Karl Siegfried, 1933-. [Collection of miscellaneous material from the Louis F. Peck collection of Lewisiana : Pamphlet vol.]. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
creatorOf MAURICE PAPERS. Vol. III. Letters and miscellanea; n.d. ff. 79. Contents: 1. ff. 1-63. Undated letters chiefly to Maurice, arranged in alphabetical order of sender; n.d. 2. ff. 64-79. Miscellaneous notes, verses, etc.; n.d.includes:f. 1 Henry Alexa... British Library
referencedIn English literature mss., 1801-1850 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Peck, Louis F. Papers, 1789-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Hughes, Richard, d. 1814,. Autograph letters signed to Richard Hughes, Sadler's Wells, from various correspondents [manuscript], 18th-19th century. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to an unidentified lord, [no year] Friday, Oct. 17th. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Henry Howard Brownell Papers, Brownell (Henry Howard) papers, 1828-1871 John Hay Library, Special Collections
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Letter to Mr. Pickersgill. [s.l.]. [17--] University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf MS Mus. 1038. ‘Dolores’ Manuscripts. Vol. v. A volume of songs for voice and piano by various composers; early to mid-nineteenth century.ff. i + 67. 295 x 240mm. Half leather on marbled boards.1. f. 1. Untitled song beginning ‘My Connor his che..., 19th century British Library
referencedIn Lefanu, Alicia, fl. 1812-1826. Alicia Lefanu manuscript material : 3 items, 1824-1834 New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph poem signed "Albion" : [n.p.], 1806 July 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf M.G. Lewis Commonplace Book, 1801-1811? University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Scrap-book. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Milliken, E. J. The Anaconda [microform] : musical buretta in two acts. University of Missouri -- Columbia, MU Libraries; University of Missouri; MU; Ellis Library; University of Missouri Columbia
referencedIn Collection of theatrical correspondence and ephemera, 1697-1930 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn George Gordon, Lord Byron letters and miscellaneous papers, [ca.1807-1824] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Byrn, James, 1756-1845. Alonzo and Imogen ballad opera collection, 1800. University of Colorado, Boulder
creatorOf Lewis, M. G. (Matthew Gregory), 1775-1818. Autograph letter signed : Oatlands, to Sharp, [1812] Aug. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Appleton, William Worthen person
associatedWith Brownell, Henry Howard, 1820-1872. person
associatedWith Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824. person
associatedWith Chedworth, John Howe, Baron, 1754-1804, person
associatedWith Clark, W. J., fl. 1777, person
associatedWith Cocteau, Jean, 1889-1963. person
associatedWith Dartmouth, George Legge, Earl of, 1755-1810. person
associatedWith Douglas, Frances, Lady, 1750-1817. person
associatedWith Ewing, Douglas C., person
associatedWith Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806. person
associatedWith Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherina, Princess, Duchess of York, 1767-1820. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Anne, Lady, 1766-1846 person
associatedWith Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, person
associatedWith Hughes, Richard, d. 1814, person
associatedWith Lamb, Caroline, Lady, 1785-1828, person
associatedWith Lansdowne, Henry Petty Fitz Maurice, 1780-1863 person
associatedWith Lefanu, Alicia, fl. 1812-1826. person
associatedWith Maurice, Thomas, 1754-1824, person
associatedWith Melbourne, Elizabeth Milbanke Lamb, Viscountess, 1752-1818. person
associatedWith Milner, Emily, person
associatedWith Payne, John Howard, 1791-1852, person
associatedWith Peabody, Augustus, person
associatedWith Peake, Richard, person
associatedWith Peck, Louis F. person
associatedWith Peck, Louis F. person
associatedWith Pickersgill, Henry William, 1782-1875, person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 person
associatedWith Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832. person
associatedWith Sharp, person
associatedWith Watson-Taylor, George, d. 1841. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Authors, English
Dramatists, English
English literature
English poetry
Male authors, English
Novelists, English
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1775-07-09

Death 1818-05-14

Britons

French,

English

Information

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