Polwhele, Richard

Polwhele, Richard an English divine noted as an antiquarian, historian, poet, and miscellaneous writer, whose works are exceedingly voluminous, was born at Truro in 1760, where he was also educated, and where, when a boy, with the assistance of the celebrated Dr. Wolcott, then a physician in that town, he first essayed as a poet. He took holy orders, and finally settled in his native place, where he died in 1838. He is noted rather for his secular productions, though he published also on religious topics. His principal works are, The History of Cornwall (7 vols. 4to): — The History of Devonshire (3 vols.): — Traditions and Recollections (2 vols.): — The Rural Rector (3 vols.): — Biographical Sketches in Cornwall (3 vols.): — Anecdotes of Methodism: — Illustrations of Scriptural Characters: — several volumes of Sermons; with numberless poems, and other writings of a miscellaneous character. See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.5.