James Wright

Who is James Wright?

James Wright, was an antiquary and writer, author of the notable Historia Histrionica. Though evidently a good scholar, he was not of either university; but in 1666 he became a student of New Inn, migrating in 1669 to the Middle Temple, by which society he was called to the bar in 1672. 'During the fluctuations of government and afterwards,' says Warton, 'he was attached to the principles of monarchy in their most extensive comprehension, and from this circumstance he might have derived his predilection for the theatre which had been suppressed by the republicans.' Besides the theatre he was much attached to country life, and dwelt often with his father at Oakham. He was 'a skilful antiquary and not a bad poet,' and possessed many rare and valuable old manuscripts, being 'one of the first collectors of old plays since Cartwright,' but all his literary curiosities, among which was an excellent transcript of Leland's 'Itinerary' of the age of Queen Elizabeth, and consequently made before the present mutilations and corruptions, were unfortunately consumed in the fire of the Middle Temple of 1678. Thomas Hearne wrote of him in October 1713 as recently dead.