John Seally (1741 or 1742–1795) was an English writer, in later life a clergyman.[1]

Life

Born in Somerset, he was educated at Bristol grammar school, with a view to ordination. His uncle and potential patron died, and he entered a solicitor's office; but moved on to learn business under the merchant Malachy Postlethwayt. Supported by his mother, he then became a journalist.[2]

During a visit to Manchester, Seally persuaded an heiress to elope with him but her father caught up with them at Worcester. He worked as a writing-master and accountant. Around 1767 he established a school in Bridgwater Square, Westminster, and after some years took holy orders. During a stay in Rome in 1774 he obtained admission to the Accademia degli Arcadi by a eulogy on Maria Maddelana Fernandez Corilla, poet-laureate of Italy. In 1790 he was presented to the vicarage of East Meon with Froxfield and Steep.[2]

Seally was elected fellow of the Royal Society on 30 June 1791, and was also M.A. and LL.D. He died in Queen Square, Westminster, in March 1795.[2] A correspondent in the Evangelical Magazine mentioned that Seally had been chaplain to the Earl of Kintore, was buried in Ellisfield, Hampshire, and was aged 49 on his death.[3]

Works

Seally published novels, poems, and school books, including:[2]

  • The Loves of Calisto and Emira, or the Fatal Legacy, London, 1776; a French translation was published in Paris (1778).
  • Moral Tales after the Eastern manner, London (1780?).
  • The Marriage of Sir Gawaine, an opera, 1782.
  • A complete Geographical Dictionary, 2 vols., London, 1787. The astronomical section was provided by Israel Lyons.[4]
  • The Lady's Encyclopaedia, 3 vols., London, 1788.

He contributed occasional verses to magazines, and launched a short-lived political paper signed Britannicus. He ran for some time the Universal Museum and the Freeholder's Magazine, and was involved in the St. James's Magazine, edited by Robert Lloyd.[2]

Family

Seally married (as he thought) in 1766, a reputedly rich widow of twice his age, but found, some years later, that she had no money and had a husband, the Rev. William Lewis. After separation from Mrs. Lewis he married Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Humphreys, rector of Ellisfield, Hampshire, and of North Stoke, Somerset, who survived him.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Cerny, Grant P. "Seally, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24984. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lee, Sidney, ed. (1897). "Seally, John" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 51. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ↑ The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle. s.n. 1823. p. 320.
  4. ↑ Wallis, Ruth. "Lyons, Israel, the younger". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/17290. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1897). "Seally, John". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 51. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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