Nicholas Rowe was a playwright and poet of the early eighteenth century who was appointed poet laureate in 1715, following the accession of George I to the British throne (August 1st 1714). His identity and reputation as a writer were closely tied to his political affiliations; he was a staunch Whig and the official recognition he received in later years owed much to his support for the Hanoverian dynasty. Nonetheless, Rowe was also more than a narrowly partisan propagandist. His contributions to the development of tragic form, his friendships with celebrated authors of various ideological allegiances, and his successful career as an editor and translator all helped to make him a particularly representative figure of his era and its literary culture.
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Citation: Jones, Emrys Daniel Blakelee. "Nicholas Rowe". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 October 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3868, accessed 24 November 2024.]
