Richard Leigh (1650-1728) was an English poet associated with metaphysical poetry and known for his pamphlet dispute with the prominent poet John Dryden.
Unfortunately, Richard Leigh’s body of work is not as well-documented or extensive as some other poets of his time, and only a limited number of his works are readily available in historical records. Nevertheless, his involvement in literary disputes and contributions to metaphysical poetry make him a notable figure in the literary landscape of the 17th century.
Here’s more information about his life, works, and his involvement in the metaphysical poetry movement:
Richard Leigh was born into a gentry family, the younger son of Sir Edward Leigh, who hailed from Rushall, Staffordshire, and Elizabeth Talbot, a relative of the Earls of Shrewsbury. He began his education at Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1666 at the age of 16. There are rumors that suggest he may have pursued a career as an actor in the Duke of York’s or King’s Company in London after leaving the university, but there is no definitive historical record to confirm this.
As a young man, Richard Leigh engaged in a pamphlet dispute with the renowned poet John Dryden. He wrote a prose tract titled “The Censure of the Rota on Mr. Dryden’s Conquest of Granada,” (circa 1670) which criticized Dryden’s work “The Conquest of Granada.” Dryden, in response, called Leigh “the Fastidious Brisk of Oxford.” This exchange reflects the literary conflicts and rivalries of the time.
Richard Leigh is classified as a metaphysical poet, a literary movement in the 17th century. Metaphysical poetry is characterized by its intellectual depth, complex imagery, and the use of bold and ingenious conceits. Metaphysical poets were known for their subtlety of thought, frequent use of paradox, and the deliberate use of harsh or rigid expressions in their work. They often combined emotion with intellectual ingenuity in their poetry, creating striking and thought-provoking effects. Metaphysical poetry involves the analysis of human feelings and often uses the device of conceit, which involves juxtaposing seemingly unrelated ideas or objects to create thought-provoking and surprising connections.
One of Richard Leigh’s notable works is “Poems upon Several Occasions and to Several Persons,” published in 1675. This collection includes various poems and some of the titles mentioned include “The Whisper.” While the specific titles of the poems within the collection are not provided, it is a significant work that showcases Leigh’s contributions to metaphysical poetry and his skill as a poet.
In addition to his collection of poems, Leigh wrote pamphlets and tracts, as mentioned earlier, and was involved in literary disputes and critiques of other poets, notably John Dryden.