Thomas Warton was an English poet and critic, son of the Rev. Thomas Warton (the elder), professor of poetry at Oxford; born in Basingstoke, England, in 1728. He was educated at Winchester, and Oxford, and early distinguished himself by his poetical compositions and criticisms. Warton was chosen professor of poetry at Oxford in 1757, a chair he filled with great ability for 10 years; appointed Camden professor of history in 1785; and he succeeded Whitehead as poet laureate in the same year. Several church livings were also held by him. He rendered great service to literature by his History of English Poetry (1774-1781, three vols.), a work never completed. He became known as a critic by his Observations on the
Fairie Queen (1754-1762). His last considerable work was
Poema upon Several Occasions by John, Milton. Thomas Warton died in Oxford, May 21, 1790. His brother, Joseph. was also a critic.
