Richard Savage (c. 1697 – 1 August 1743) remains a fascinating figure in 18th Century British poetry. He is known both for his poetry and the dramatic life story he lived. His tale involves claims of noble birth, public accusations, friendship with famous writers, poverty, prison, and early death. He wrote with passion and wit, and his works reflect both his personal suffering and the social struggles of writers of his time. Although not as polished or celebrated as some of his contemporaries, Savage made an important mark on British poetry and literary culture. This article explores his life, works, and legacy, comparing him with other poets of the 18th century and situating him within the rich world of British poetry.
Richard Savage
Illegitimate Birth and Mystery
Richard Savage’s origins are clouded in mystery and controversy. He claimed to be born in January 1697 in Fox Court, Holborn, London. According to him, his mother was Anne Brett, Countess of Macclesfield, and his father was Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers. The Countess denied this, and many contemporaries questioned the truth of his story. Despite this, Savage insisted on his noble lineage throughout his life. This uncertainty shaped his identity and poetry. The tension between his noble claims and social rejection became a central theme in his work. Savage’s story was also a powerful example of the precariousness of status and legitimacy in 18th century Britain.
Childhood and Education
Savage’s early years are hard to trace, largely because records are scarce and much of what we know comes from his own sometimes contradictory accounts. He said he was raised by a grandmother and godmother who cared for him but did not provide for his education. He claimed to have attended school near St Albans but left without completing formal studies.
His rough upbringing, combined with his social marginalization, likely influenced his rebellious and often desperate character. Unlike some of his contemporaries who had privileged educations, Savage’s background was unstable, which may explain his later struggles in literary London.
Entry into Literary London
First Works and Satire
Savage’s first known work was The Convocation, or The Battle of Pamphlets (1717), a satirical poem attacking the political and religious controversies of the day, particularly Bishop Benjamin Hoadly. This early work was bold and risky, reflecting the turbulent literary politics of early 18th century Britain. Savage later tried to suppress this poem, possibly due to the controversies it stirred or his changing political views. This early satire shows Savage’s sharp wit and willingness to engage in public debate, traits that would mark his literary career.
Drama and Steele
In 1718, Savage ventured into the theatre with Love in a Veil, an adaptation of a Spanish play. It was produced at the famous Drury Lane Theatre, one of London’s main stages. This work helped him gain the attention of Sir Richard Steele, a prominent playwright, politician, and literary figure. Steele took Savage under his wing for a time, giving him a foothold in London’s literary circles.
However, their relationship was unstable. Savage’s volatile nature and Steele’s more measured temperament eventually led to a falling out. This early experience illustrated Savage’s difficulty in maintaining patronage, a crucial factor in a poet’s success during this period.
Tragedy and Notoriety
Savage’s most notable dramatic effort was Sir Thomas Overbury, produced in 1723. Though it was a tragedy and gave him some attention, it was not a critical success. Contemporary reviews were mixed, and the play did not secure Savage a lasting reputation in the theatre. Nevertheless, it increased his visibility and helped to cement his reputation as a serious literary figure, albeit one marked by controversy and inconsistency.
The Poet in Social Circles
Hillarian Circle
In the mid-1720s, Savage became part of the literary circle around Aaron Hill, a poet and playwright who sought to promote new voices. This group also included poets such as John Dyer and James Thomson. Hill was a strong supporter of Savage and helped him publish work in the magazine The Plain Dealer, which promoted literary criticism and new poetry.
This association was important for Savage’s development as a poet and for the support he received in a competitive literary market. It also positioned him within a network of writers interested in reforming British poetry.
Alexander Pope and Grub Street
Savage moved in circles that included Alexander Pope, the most famous British poet of the era. Pope’s Dunciad (1729) mocked many lesser writers, especially those working in Grub Street, the London district known for hack writers. Savage was both a target and participant in this world.
There are reports that Savage fed information to Pope, making him both a rival and collaborator. Pope admired Savage’s wit but also saw his flaws. Their relationship reflects the complicated dynamics of friendship, rivalry, and patronage that shaped 18th Century British poetry.
Major Poetic Works
Miscellaneous Poems and Reputation
In 1726, Savage published Miscellaneous Poems through a subscription model, common at the time. The collection contained various poems including satires and elegies. In the preface, Savage recounted his birth story and hardship, shaping his public image as a wronged noble.
Anne Brett, the Countess who denied his claims, reportedly paid him to suppress this collection, indicating the tension between Savage’s public image and private reality. This collection helped establish his reputation but also fueled scandal.
The Wanderer
Savage’s most ambitious poem is The Wanderer, published in 1729. It was influenced by James Thomson’s successful The Seasons. The Wanderer is a long, reflective poem that explores themes of identity, nature, exile, and loss. It blends personal emotion with the grandeur of the natural world.
Though it never achieved the popularity of The Seasons, The Wanderer shows Savage’s skill in adapting the poetic forms and themes of his day while making them personal and urgent.
Prose Satire
Also in 1729, Savage published An Author to be Let, a prose satire on the precarious life of writers dependent on patronage. It mocks the commercial pressures on poets and the harsh realities of literary London.
This work reveals Savage’s sharp critique of the literary marketplace and the social position of poets in British society.
Scandal and Misfortune
Murder Charge
In 1727, Savage became embroiled in a serious scandal. He was accused of murdering James Sinclair in a tavern fight. The case was highly publicized. Savage was convicted but later received a royal pardon, reportedly through the intervention of the Countess of Hertford.
This incident reflected Savage’s turbulent character and the dangers of his lifestyle. It also showed the fragile legal and social systems in 18th century London.
Perpetual Debt
Despite the pardon, Savage never escaped poverty. He was known for his debts and heavy drinking. His lifestyle made it difficult to maintain stable patronage or financial security.
In 1743, Savage was imprisoned in Bristol Newgate prison for owing a mere £8. He died there soon after, likely from complications of alcohol abuse. His death was a tragic end to a life marked by instability and brilliance.
Samuel Johnson and Lasting Fame
Johnson’s Biography
Shortly after Savage’s death, Samuel Johnson wrote An Account of the Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744). This biography was first published anonymously and later included in Johnson’s famous Lives of the English Poets.
Johnson’s account is notable for its vivid, psychological portrayal of Savage. It captures both his flaws and virtues, making Savage a memorable literary figure.
Johnson’s View
Johnson admired Savage’s poetic talent but did not ignore his faults. He described Savage as a passionate and often reckless man. Johnson’s biography was one of the first serious attempts at a literary biography in English.
The work helped shape how later generations understood Savage and the figure of the “tortured poet” in British letters.
Savage as Literary Archetype
Savage’s life and personality helped create a new literary archetype: the rebellious, troubled poet who struggles against social constraints. This figure became a recurring motif in British poetry and culture, influencing later writers who identified with such conflict.
Comparing Savage with Contemporary Poets
James Thomson (1700–1748)
Thomson was Savage’s near contemporary and shared some poetic interests, especially in nature poetry. Thomson’s The Seasons gained immense popularity for its detailed and lyrical descriptions of nature. Savage’s The Wanderer follows a similar model but is more personal and less polished.
Thomson’s success and establishment contrast with Savage’s outsider status, highlighting differences in temperament, connections, and poetic style.
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
Pope was the leading satirist and poet of the early 18th century. His work is marked by careful structure, wit, and social commentary. Savage was more raw and emotionally exposed. While Pope was a master craftsman and deeply embedded in literary patronage, Savage was often on the margins.
Their relationship reveals the tensions between professionalism and passion, control and chaos, in British poetry.
Thomas Gray (1716–1771)
Gray is known for his thoughtful and melancholic lyric poetry. His Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a highlight of British poetry. Savage’s work lacks Gray’s refinement but shares a focus on themes of mortality and loss. Unlike Gray, Savage’s poetry is more direct and autobiographical, revealing a different voice in 18th Century British poetry.
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Johnson admired Savage’s life and work but was himself more measured and disciplined. Johnson’s prose and criticism became highly influential, but Savage’s
biography offered a raw portrait of poetic struggle. The contrast between Johnson and Savage illustrates different models of poetic and literary success in their era.
Literary Significance in British Poetry
Life as Poetry
Richard Savage’s life and poetry were deeply intertwined. He made his personal struggles part of his public persona and his verse. This blurred line between life and art helped create a new way of thinking about poets and poetry in Britain. His example showed that poetry could be a form of self-expression grounded in real hardship.
Social Satire
Savage’s satirical works, such as An Author to be Let, provide a valuable window into the difficult social position of poets in 18th century Britain. His biting critique of patronage and literary market pressures reflected the realities many poets faced, making him a significant figure in understanding British poetry’s social context.
Influence via Johnson and Pope
While Savage’s poetic output was limited, his influence is felt through the support and attention of major figures like Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson. Pope’s occasional patronage and Johnson’s biography ensured Savage’s place in literary history. Johnson’s work in particular shaped how biography and literary criticism developed in Britain.
Themes and Style
Nature and Alienation
In The Wanderer, Savage uses nature imagery not just for description but to express deep feelings of loneliness and exile. He presents the natural world as both beautiful and indifferent, mirroring his own alienation from society and family. This theme of nature reflecting human emotion became a staple in British poetry.
Passion and Conflict
Savage’s poetry is filled with intense emotions. Love, anger, grief, and pride surge through his verse. His personal life was turbulent, and his poetry reflects this chaos. Unlike some contemporaries who sought elegance and control, Savage’s style is more direct and passionate.
Personas and Identity
Savage crafted a poetic persona built around his claims of noble birth, his defiance of social norms, and his refusal to accept charity. His poems often explore questions of identity and legitimacy, themes central to his own experience and resonant in the broader British social and literary context.
Legacy and Scholarship
Biographical Studies
Richard Savage’s poems and biography have been the subject of extensive scholarly work. Clarence Tracy’s critical editions and Samuel Johnson’s biography remain foundational texts. More recent studies by literary historians explore Savage’s role in self-fashioning and literary culture.
Critical Appraisal
Critics often describe Savage as a “poet-manqué”—a poet who had talent but was prevented by character and circumstance from achieving full success. His poetry is admired for its emotional honesty and vivid imagery, but his erratic life often overshadows his literary achievements.
Modern Interest
Today, scholars study Savage to better understand the role of personal identity, scandal, and social conflict in British poetry. His life story anticipates later Romantic ideas about the misunderstood and suffering poet. Thus, Savage remains a key figure for understanding the evolution of British poetic selfhood.
Conclusion
Richard Savage may not rank among the greatest 18th Century British poets in technical skill or acclaim. Yet his life and poetry offer a unique window into the challenges of literary life in 18th century Britain. His struggles with identity, poverty, and social acceptance shaped both his verse and his legacy.
Through the friendships and support of figures like Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson, Savage secured a place in British literary history. Johnson’s biography, in particular, helped make Savage an enduring symbol of the tortured and rebellious poet.
Savage’s life and work remain a powerful example of how poetry and personal experience can intertwine. He helped shape the way we think about poets—as complex, conflicted individuals—and influenced the development of British poetry beyond his own modest output.
