About
Horace Walpole (1717-1797) was an English writer and politician, son of Robert Walpole, Britain's first de facto Prime Minister. He is best known for his Gothic novel The Castle of Otranto (1764), widely regarded as the first Gothic novel in English. Walpole also wrote historical and artistic works, and transformed his villa at Twickenham into a Gothic Revival castle, Strawberry Hill, which influenced the Gothic Revival. He established a private press and left a voluminous correspondence, published in 48 volumes, which is a valuable source on 18th-century British life.
* 1717-09-24 — † 1797-03-02
Major works
- The Castle of Otranto (1764)novel
- Anecdotes of Painting in England (1762)art history
- Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard the Third (1768)historical essay
Key milestones
- 1747Acquired a villa at Twickenham, which he transformed into a Gothic Revival castle, Strawberry Hill.
- 1754Coined the word 'serendipity' in a letter dated 28 January.
- 1791Succeeded as 4th Earl of Orford upon the death of his nephew.
Themes
GothicHistoryArtCorrespondenceArchitecture
Sources: britannica.com · guides.library.yale.edu · npg.org.uk