Michael Wodhull (1740 – 13 January 1816) was an English bibliophile, translator, and poet, noted for his private library and for producing the first English translation of Homer's Iliad rendered in heroic couplets.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1740 in Rostherne, Cheshire, Wodhull was the son of a landed gentry family. He attended Westminster School and later matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, though he did not complete a degree.
Bibliophilia and Library
Wodhull amassed a significant collection of rare books, particularly early printed editions and classical texts. His library, catalogued in A Catalogue of the Library of Michael Wodhull (1814), was regarded as one of the most distinguished private collections in England during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The catalogue included incunabula, first editions, and annotated volumes, reflecting his scholarly interests.
Literary Career
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Translation of the Iliad (1798): Wodhull completed a translation of Homer's Iliad into English heroic couplets. Although the work received mixed critical reception, it was notable for being the first English translation of the epic presented in this poetic form. The translation was published in two volumes and contributed to the period's growing interest in classical literature.
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Poetry: He authored several poems, including occasional verses and satirical pieces that were occasionally printed in contemporary magazines. His poetry, while not achieving lasting fame, exemplified the neoclassical style prevalent among gentleman scholars of his era.
Later Life and Legacy
Wodhull remained active in the literary and antiquarian circles of London, corresponding with other collectors and scholars. He died on 13 January 1816 at his estate in Cheshire. After his death, portions of his library were sold at auction, dispersing many valuable items to other collectors and institutions. His contributions to English bibliography and his role as an early translator of classical epic remain subjects of interest for historians of the book and of eighteenth‑century English literature.
Selected Works
- The Iliad of Homer, translated into English Verse (1798)
- A Catalogue of the Library of Michael Wodhull (1814)
References
- "Michael Wodhull," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- H. J. S. Blythe, The Bibliophiles of the 18th Century, (Cambridge University Press, 1975).
- Catalogue of the Library of Michael Wodhull, 1814.