Leland, Thomas

Leland, Thomas D.D., an English divine, was born at Dublin in 1722, and was educated at Trinity College in that city. He became senior fellow of the college, and was made a professor of poetry there in 1763; afterwards vicar of Bray, and later chaplain to the lord lieutenant of Ireland. He died in 1785. Leland was a profound scholar and a most eloquent preacher. He published the Orations of Demosthenes, Latin version and notes (London, 1754, 2 vols. 12mo), in conjunnction with Dr. John Stokes: — the Orations [19] of Demosthenes, in English (1756-61-70, 3 vols. 4to; last ed. 1831, 12mo): — Hist. of the Life and Reign of Philip, King of Macedon (1758, 2 vols. 4to; last ed. 1820, 2 vols. 8vo): — Dissertation on the Principles of Human Eloquence, etc. (1764, 4to), elicited by bishop Warburton's Discourse on the Doctrine of Grace: answered (anonymously) by Hurd, on behalf of Warburton, in a very petulant letter. Answer to a letter to him, etc., 1764, 4to. This is a reply to Hurd. Leland answered for himself, and. in the opinion of all the world, completely demolished his antagonist. See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, vol. 2, s.v.