William Walsh

Who was William Walsh?

William Walsh was an English poet and critic, son of Joseph Walsh of Abberley Hall, Worcestershire.

He entered Wadham College, Oxford, as a gentleman commoner in 1678. Leaving the university without a degree, he settled in his native county, and was returned MP for Worcestershire in 1698, 1701 and 1702. In 1705 he sat for Richmond, Yorkshire. On the accession of Queen Anne he was made "gentleman of the horse," a post which he held till his death, noted by Narcissus Luttrell on 18 March 1708.

He wrote a Dialogue concerning Women, being a Defence of the Sex, addressed to "Eugenia"; and Letters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant; love lyrics designed, says the author, to impart to the world "the faithful image of an amorous heart."

It is not as a poet, however, but as the friend and correspondent of Alexander Pope that Walsh is remembered. Pope's Pastorals were submitted for his criticism by Wycherley in 1705, and Walsh then entered on a direct correspondence with the young poet. The letters are printed in Pope's Works. Pope, who visited him at Abberley in 1707, set great value upon his opinion. "Mr Walsh used to tell me," he says, "that there was one way left of excelling; for though we had several great poets, we never had any one great poet that was correct, and he desired me to make that my study and my aim."