Francis Gentleman

Gentleman, Francis, a dramatist and poet, was born in Ireland, 23rd October 1728, and received his education in Dublin. He served in the army, but was dismissed on the reduction of the forces in 1748. He then went on the stage, and succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations — appearing in Dublin, London, Edinburgh, and the provinces. He wrote several plays, and works bearing on the drama, and has the unhappy notoriety of being the editor of perhaps the most faulty edition of Shakspere that was ever published. Biographia Dramatica goes even so far as to call it "the worst edition that ever appeared of any English author." He returned to Ireland in 1777, and died in want, 21st December 1784, aged 56.

Sources

16. Authors, Dictionary of British and American: S. Austin Allibone. 3 vols. Philadelphia, 1859-'71.

37. Biographical Dictionary: Alexander Chalmers. 32 vols. London, 1812-'17.