George Adams (translator)
Encyclopedia
George Adams English translator, in prose, of Sophocles
, and probably a clergyman, polemic and apologist.
, for, in the dedication of his Sophocles to William Montagu, 2nd Duke of Manchester
, with whom he was on terms of intimacy or acquaintanceship, he speaks of the joy diffused by his grace's presence amongst those ‘who lived near the place of his usual residence,’ and of the ‘sadness and discontent’ which sat ‘upon every brow’ at his absence when, in fulfilment of his duties as a lord of the bedchamber, he was called away to ‘shine as a star in its proper sphere near the person of his majesty.’ The context of these passages shows the author to have been an ardent Protestant and a devoted partisan of the Hanoverian
succession.
In addition to his translation of Sophocles, Adams wrote what Mr. D.E. Davy calls The Heathen Martyr, and what the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1746 registers amongst the books and pamphlets published during that month as The Life of Socrates: an Historical Tragedy, London, 1746. It is not unlikely that Adams was the author of An Exposition of some Articles of Religion, which strike at the Tenets of the Arian
s and Socinians. Likewise at the Infidels, Romanists, Lutherans, and Calvinists. In several Sermons and Dissertations, London, 1752. In a Latin dedication to Dr. Thomas Sherlock
, bishop of London
, the author of this work describes himself as having exercised his sacred office (sacro munere) in that diocese for a period of over twenty years.
It is equally possible further to credit him with another volume, the identity of whose authorship with that of the Exposition is generally accepted, by George Adams, M.A. entitled A System of Divinity, Ecclesiastical History, and Morality. Collected from the Writings of Authors of various Nations and Languages, and from the noblest Doctors of the Christian Church, London, 1768.
Adams may have been the same with the Rev. George Adams who was preferred to the prebend of Seaford
on 24 August 1736, and was transferred to that of Wittering
on 28 October following, both in the cathedral church of Chichester
, and who vacated the latter in 1751–2. Of course the System of Divinity may have been of posthumous publication; but if the foregoing surmises be correct, Adams probably died not before 1768, the year of the issue of his latest work, when he was about seventy years of age.
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
, and probably a clergyman, polemic and apologist.
Biography
Adams was sometime a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took his degrees of B.A. and M.A. respectively in 1719 and 1735. Between these two dates he published the work by which he is best known, entitled The Tragedies of Sophocles, translated from the Greek. With Notes Historical, Moral, and Critical, London, 1729. At this time he was either beneficed or otherwise established in the immediate neighbourhood of Kimbolton CastleKimbolton Castle
Kimbolton Castle in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, is best known as the final home of King Henry VIII's first queen, Catherine of Aragon. Originally a medieval castle but converted into a stately palace, it was the family seat of the Dukes of Manchester from 1615 until 1950...
, for, in the dedication of his Sophocles to William Montagu, 2nd Duke of Manchester
William Montagu, 2nd Duke of Manchester
William Montagu, 2nd Duke of Manchester, KB was the son of Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester.He married Lady Isabella Montagu, daughter of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, on 16 April 1723....
, with whom he was on terms of intimacy or acquaintanceship, he speaks of the joy diffused by his grace's presence amongst those ‘who lived near the place of his usual residence,’ and of the ‘sadness and discontent’ which sat ‘upon every brow’ at his absence when, in fulfilment of his duties as a lord of the bedchamber, he was called away to ‘shine as a star in its proper sphere near the person of his majesty.’ The context of these passages shows the author to have been an ardent Protestant and a devoted partisan of the Hanoverian
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
succession.
In addition to his translation of Sophocles, Adams wrote what Mr. D.E. Davy calls The Heathen Martyr, and what the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1746 registers amongst the books and pamphlets published during that month as The Life of Socrates: an Historical Tragedy, London, 1746. It is not unlikely that Adams was the author of An Exposition of some Articles of Religion, which strike at the Tenets of the Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
s and Socinians. Likewise at the Infidels, Romanists, Lutherans, and Calvinists. In several Sermons and Dissertations, London, 1752. In a Latin dedication to Dr. Thomas Sherlock
Thomas Sherlock
Thomas Sherlock was a British divine who served as a Church of England bishop for 33 years. He is also noted in church history as an important contributor to Christian apologetics.-Life:...
, bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, the author of this work describes himself as having exercised his sacred office (sacro munere) in that diocese for a period of over twenty years.
It is equally possible further to credit him with another volume, the identity of whose authorship with that of the Exposition is generally accepted, by George Adams, M.A. entitled A System of Divinity, Ecclesiastical History, and Morality. Collected from the Writings of Authors of various Nations and Languages, and from the noblest Doctors of the Christian Church, London, 1768.
Adams may have been the same with the Rev. George Adams who was preferred to the prebend of Seaford
Seaford, East Sussex
Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Lying east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne, it is the largest town in Lewes district, with a population of about 23,000....
on 24 August 1736, and was transferred to that of Wittering
Wittering, Sussex
Wittering, Sussex can refer to two civil parishes in the Chichester district of West Sussex namely:*East Wittering, West Sussex*West Wittering, West Sussex...
on 28 October following, both in the cathedral church of Chichester
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
, and who vacated the latter in 1751–2. Of course the System of Divinity may have been of posthumous publication; but if the foregoing surmises be correct, Adams probably died not before 1768, the year of the issue of his latest work, when he was about seventy years of age.