Urquhart, Sir Thomas

Urquhart, Sir Thomas

▪ Scottish writer
Urquhart also spelled  Urchard  
born 1611, Cromarty, Scot.
died 1660

      Scottish author best known for his translation of the works of François Rabelais (Rabelais, François), one of the most original and vivid translations from any foreign language into English.

      Urquhart studied at King's College, Aberdeen, and fought against the Covenanters at Turriff (1639). He was knighted by Charles I in 1641. His strong Royalist convictions led him to join the army of Charles II in 1651. Taken prisoner at the Battle of Worcester, he was incarcerated in the Tower of London and at Windsor. Cromwell allowed his release on parole, and after 1653 he appears to have been at liberty, probably taking refuge on the European continent with other Cavaliers. He died abroad, allegedly “in a fit of excessive laughter, on being informed by his servant that the King was restored,” in 1660.

      In the 1640s and early '50s Urquhart published several fantastical works that combined an obscure symbolism with sharply drawn autobiographical reminiscences. Urquhart eventually found the perfect medium for his rich, inventive, idiosyncratic style in translating Rabelais (Rabelais, François). In the Works of Mr. Francis Rabelais (books i–ii, 1653; part of book iii, 1693), his linguistic exuberance and his sympathy with Rabelais's spirit combined to make this translation the long-established English-language version. Peter Anthony Motteux completed book iii (1693–94), as well as books iv and v (1708).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Urquhart,Sir Thomas — Ur·quhart (ûrʹkərt, kärt ), Sir Thomas. 1611 1660. Scottish Royalist, writer, and translator of the works of Rabelais. * * * …   Universalium

  • URQUHART, SIR THOMAS —    of Cromarty, a cavalier and supporter of Charles I., and a great enemy of the Covenanters in Scotland; travelled much, and acquired a mass of miscellaneous knowledge, which he was fain to display and did display in a most pedantic style; posed …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Urquhart, Sir Thomas — (1611 1660)    Eccentric writer and translator, was ed. at King s Coll., Aberdeen, after leaving which he travelled in France, Spain, and Italy. He was bitterly opposed to the Covenanters, and fought against them at Turriff in 1639. His later… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Thomas Urquhart (Autor) — Sir Thomas Urquhart Sir Thomas Urquhart (* 1611; † 1660) war ein schottischer Dichter und Übersetzer. Er übersetzte Rabelais ins Englische. Werke 1641: Epigrams, Divine and Moral 1645: Trissotetras 1652: Pantochronachanon 16 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thomas Urquhart — Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty (or Urchard, 1611 c. 1660) was a Scottish writer and translator, most famous for his translation of Rabelais.LifeUrquhart was born to an old landholding family in Cromarty in northern Scotland. At the age of eleven …   Wikipedia

  • Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet — of Edinburgh, (24 December 1776 ndash; 18 September 1829) was Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh. [ Adams, Thomas, Harvey, William, Whitson, Thomas, editors, Edinburgh 1329 1929 , Edinburgh, 1929: 140] The son… …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan — (October 9, 1792 ndash; June 10, 1851) was a Scottish lawyer and judge. He was Solicitor General for Scotland between 1840 and 1841 and again between 1846 and 1850. He was also Member of Parliament for Kirkcudbrightshire between 1845 and 1850. In …   Wikipedia

  • Urquhart — [ʉr′kərt, ʉr′kärt΄] Sir Thomas 1611 60; Scot. writer & translator …   English World dictionary

  • Thomas Urquhart — Retrato de Sir Thomas Urquhart, 1641, grabado de George Glover. Sir Thomas Urquhart de Cromarty (o Urchard, 1611 ca.1660) fue un escritor y traductor escocés, conocido por su traducción de Rabelais. Contenido …   Wikipedia Español

  • Thomas Gordon (Royal Scots Navy officer) — Admiral Thomas Gordon (c. 1658–1741) was a commodore of the Royal Scots Navy and Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy. BackgroundGordon is believed to have been the son of Doctor Thomas Gordon and Jean Hay of Aberdeen, but his origins are… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”