Jonathan Swift &
Baile Ă tha Cliath Dublin
Blianta a Óige Early Life
Jonathan Swift, writer and dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, was born in Hoey’s Court in St Werburgh’s parish, Dublin, on 30 November 1667. He was taken to England by his mother at the age of three. At six he was sent to the eminent Kilkenny School and at fourteen he entered Trinity College Dublin where he received a BA in 1686.
Clockwise from top: Engraved portrait of Esther Johnson (Stella), from William Wilde, The closing years of Dean Swift’s life (Dublin, 1849) Engraved portrait of Sir William Temple (framed print). John Rocque, An exact survey of the city and suburbs of Dublin (London, 1756), showing Hoey’s Court Drawing of Swift’s birthplace, Hoey’s Court, The Georgian Society Records, III, p.21 (Dublin, 1911)
Swift spent some years in England during the Williamite Wars, working as secretary to Sir William Temple, a distinguished politician, at Moor Park, Surrey. After five years he returned to Dublin and decided to take orders in the Church of Ireland. In January 1695 he was ordained in Christ Church cathedral. He returned to Moor Park for a further three years to help Sir William prepare his writings for publication. Here he met and was tutor to Hester Johnson (Stella) who remained his friend and muse until her death in 1728. Sir William died in 1699 and his correspondence, edited by Swift, was published in 1700. While at Moor Park he wrote the satirical A tale of a tub, published in 1704.
Déan ar Ard-Eaglais Phádraig Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral
Swift returned to Dublin as chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley, one of the lord justices of Ireland in 1699. He was appointed to the vicarage of Laracor, near Trim, in Co. Meath in 1700 and took his doctor’s degree from Trinity College in 1701. For the next few years he divided his time between London and Dublin, making friends with the foremost writers of the day and making his name as a wit in the coffee houses of London.
He became involved in Tory politics in London and hoped for preferment in England. However, he was appointed dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, in 1713, which came as a bitter disappointment. While unhappy with his appointment he nevertheless set about improving the deanery and creating a new garden near the cathedral, which he called ‘Naboth’s vineyard’. He also began to build up networks around Ireland with writers, clergy and landowners. Swift died on 19 October 1745 and is buried in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Clockwise from top: Coloured postcard of the Lady Chapel, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin View of St Patrick’s Cathedral from the west (engraved print) View of St Patrick’s Cathedral from the north (engraved print) Engraving of St Patrick’s Cathedral, from Robert Pool and John Cash, Views of the most remarkable public buildings in the city of Dublin (Dublin, 1780)
Dublin was a small city at this period and Swift’s deanery and his resting place in St Patrick’s were only a stone’s throw away from his birthplace in Hoey’s Court.
Scríbhinní Polaitiúla & Sóisialta Political & Social Writings
As Swift settled into life in Dublin he became very aware of injustices that prevailed in Ireland, and the poverty and misery of people living in the streets around St Patrick’s, and elsewhere in the city and countryside. He began to publish pamphlets on the ills of the country. In 1724 he became involved with the controversy over the new copper coinage minted for Ireland, known as Wood’s halfpence. His seven pamphlets, published between 1724 and 1725, were written under the name of M.B. Drapier and became known as Drapier’s letters, in which he drew attention to the inferiority of the coinage, and the fact that the patent was granted through bribery. After a popular campaign the patent was withdrawn. Swift’s A modest proposal, published in Dublin in 1729, was a vicious satire recommending that poor Irish parents sell their infants to provide food for the rich.
Top to bottom: Title page, Jonathan Swift, A modest proposal (Dublin, 1729) Advertisement for M.B. Drapier’s Letters to the shop-keepers (Harding’s Dublin Impartial News-Letter 29 August 1724) Title page and frontispiece, volume IV of Jonathan Swift, Works (Dublin, 1735)
Aistir Gulliver Gulliver’s Travels
In 1726 Swift’s enduring masterpiece, Travels into several remote nations of the world, popularly known as Gulliver’s travels, was published in London, with a Dublin edition appearing the following year. Much of the text is dark, especially the later books, but the first books, Voyage to Lilliput and Voyage to Brobdingnag, appealed to children and are still abridged and retold for a young audience. Illustrated versions were available before the 18th century was out, and many of the best-loved illustrators have re-imagined it for new generations.
Clockwise from top right: Illustration of Gulliver in Lilliput, Gulliver’s travels into several remote regions of the world, illustrated by Peter Pindar Junior (London, 1874) Illustration of Gulliver in Brobdingnag, Gulliver’s travels into several remote regions of the world, illustrated by T. Morten (London, 1864) Travels into several remote nations of the world, second edition (Dublin, 1727) Title page and frontispiece of the French translation Voyages du capitaine Lemuel Gulliver en divers pays eloignez (The Hague, 1730) Illustration of Gulliver in Lilliput, Gulliver’s travels into several remote regions of the world, illustrated by T. Morten (London, 1864) Title page and frontispiece, first edition of Travels into several remote nations of the world (London, 1726)
Foilsitheoirí Swift i mBaile Átha Cliath Swift’s Dublin Publishers
Swift’s Dublin publishers were very important in the printed legacy of his works: John and Sarah Harding for their courage in printing his early works, and George Faulkner in shaping the body of his work when so much of it was published anonymously. The first collected Works was printed by Faulkner in 1735, while Swift was alive and able to contribute to the collection of diverse materials.
John Harding worked as a printer in Dublin from about 1718 until his death in 1725. His printing house was at Molesworth Court in Fishamble Street in the 1720s. He worked with Swift from about 1721 and published his anonymous Drapier’s letters in 1724; 2,000 copies of the first letter were printed. The letters so incensed the government that they offered £300 to discover the author, and Harding was jailed for publishing them. While John was in prison and after his death, his wife, Sarah, continued to publish Swift’s work until 1729. She published Swift’s Journal of a Dublin lady and A modest proposal in 1729.
Clockwise from top: Illustration of Wood’s halfpenny from Gulliver’s travels, illustrated from designs by J. G.Thomson, engraved by W. L. Thomas (London, 1864) Title page, Jonathan Swift, A short view of the state of Ireland (Dublin, Sarah Harding, 1727-8) Title page, A letter from a lady of quality (Dublin, John Harding, 1723) John Rocque, An exact survey of the city and suburbs of Dublin (London, 1756), showing Fishamble Street
George Faulkner & the Collected Works
George Faulkner, ‘prince of Dublin printers’ and alderman of Dublin, took over as Swift’s Dublin printer in 1729 and he continued to publish his works until his own death in 1775. His bookshop was at Essex Street, opposite the bridge. Faulkner printed the first collected works in four volumes in 1734 – 1735. He worked in collaboration with Swift and gathered together many fugitive pieces that might otherwise have been lost. Faulkner managed Swift’s literary output after his death, he auctioned Swift’s personal library in 1746, published his letters and edited further sets of collected works up to 1772, when he printed a 20 volume set. A convivial individual, Faulkner loved to wine, dine and entertain. He was more than a business associate of Swift’s, he was a friend. Writing to William Hogarth the artist, in 1740, Faulkner says: ‘I have often the favour of drinking your health with Dr Swift, who is a great admirer of yours, and hath made mention of you in his poems with great honour’.
Clockwise from top left: Engraved portrait of Alderman George Faulkner Engraved portrait of Swift, frontispiece to John Boyle, Lord Orrery, Remarks on the life and writings of Dr. Jonathan Swift (Dublin, 1752) John Rocque, An exact survey of the city and suburbs of Dublin (London, 1756), showing Essex Street Title page and frontispiece of volume one of The works of J.S, D.D. D.S.P.D. (Dublin, George Faulkner, 1735)
Oidhreacht & Tábhacht Legacy & Importance
After his death on 19 October 1745 Swift’s library was sold and its contents scattered among collectors. Modern researchers have spent much time and effort trying to recreate his original library to study the influences on his work and thought.
Clockwise from top left:
In his will he bequeathed £12,000 to build a home for ‘fools and mad’ as he realised that people with mental illness required special treatment. The year after his death, in 1746, St Patrick’s Hospital was founded. This was the first psychiatric hospital to be built in Ireland.
Engraved portrait of Swift, London, 1741 (framed prints)
Swift’s literary influence is immense and his reputation is worldwide. His works have been translated in hundreds of languages. The earliest foreign translation of Gulliver’s travels was Voyages du capitaine Lemuel Gulliver, printed in The Hague in 1730. Adopted by children at an early stage, Gulliver’s travels has become a firm favourite throughout the three centuries since its publication. Swift’s name has become part of Irish folklore, his actions and wit giving rise to many stories. The national school collection of folklore, gathered in the late 1930s, includes many such stories from around the country.
Engraving of ballad singers from Gulliver’s travels, illustrated from designs by J. G. Thomson, engraved by W. L. Thomas (London, 1864) Title page of A catalogue of books, the library of the late Rev. Dr. Swift (Dublin, 1745)
Illustration of Gulliver in Brobdingnag, Gulliver’s travels into several remote regions of the world, illustrated by Peter Pindar Junior (London, 1874)