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Joseph Richardson (1755–1803) was an English author and politician. ==Life== Born at Hexham, Northumberland, he was the only child of Joseph Richardson, a tradesman there. He was educated at Haydon Bridge school, and admitted sizar at St John's College, Cambridge, on 4 July 1774. His father's means were insufficient for the complete education of his son, and the cost of his residence at college was borne by a titled lady of Northumberland who discovered his talents, but in 1778 she cut off her contributions. Although he was readmitted as pensioner on 25 September 1780, he left the university without taking a degree. Richardson, intended as he was for the church, entered the Middle Temple on 24 March 1781, where he was duly called to the bar. In London he in fact concentrated on journalism, and after appearing as counsel in a few contested election petitions, gave up the legal profession.〔 Richardson's earliest journalistic post was on the staff of ''The Morning Post'', then still a Whig paper, and he later became one of its proprietors. While connected with the ''Post'' he fought a duel in Hyde Park with Sir Henry Bate Dudley, and was wounded in the right arm. He also contributed letters, signed "Englishman", to a paper called ''The Citizen''.〔 Richard Wilson, Member of Parliament for and an old friend, introduced Richardson to the Duke of Northumberland. The Duke's influence brought him the seat of Newport in Cornwall in Parliament, from 1796 until his death. He never had the confidence to speak in the House of Commons.〔 For many years Richard assisted Richard Brinsley Sheridan in the management of Drury Lane Theatre, and ultimately acquired a share in the property. (The money for this purchase was mainly from the Duke of Northumberland, and on Richardson's death the Duke cancelled the loan.) His comedy, ''The Fugitive'', was brought out at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket by the Drury Lane Company with success on 20 April 1792, and, when printed, passed through three editions. The prologue was by Richard Tickell and the epilogue by John Burgoyne. Richardson also wrote the prologue to the ''Glorious First of June'', the after-piece which was acted at Drury Lane on 2 July 1794 for the benefit of the widows and children of the sailors who died at the naval battle of that name.〔 Despite failing health, Richardson stuck to the rigorous parliamentary life. One night he remained in the House of Commons until five o'clock in the morning to record his vote in the small minority with Charles James Fox. He then went to the Wheatsheaf Inn, near Virginia Water, and died on 9 June 1803. He was buried in Egham churchyard on 13 June.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joseph Richardson (1755–1803)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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