Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding c 1743 etching from Jonathan Wild the Great

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Henry Fielding grave

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Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich, earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones. Alongside his literary achievements, Fielding also made a significant contribution to the development of the English legal system, founding what some have considered the first modern police force, the Bow Street Runners, in 1749.

Early Life

Henry Fielding was born in Sharpham, Somerset, England, to Edmund Fielding, an army officer, and his wife, Sarah Gould. The Fielding family was descended from nobility, but they were not wealthy, and Henry's early life was marked by financial struggle. He was educated at Eton College, where he established a lifelong friendship with William Pitt the Elder. Despite the family's financial difficulties, Fielding was sent to study at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands but returned to England after less than a year.

Literary Career

Fielding's literary career began with his first play, Love in Several Masques, performed in 1728. However, it was his satirical plays that gained him notoriety, particularly The Author's Farce (1730) and Pasquin (1736), which criticized the government and the literary establishment. This led to the Licensing Act of 1737, which required plays to be approved by the Lord Chamberlain before production, effectively ending Fielding's career as a playwright.

In response, Fielding turned to novel writing, where he found considerable success. His first major novel, Joseph Andrews (1742), was initially conceived as a parody of Richardson's Pamela, but it evolved into a serious work. Fielding's masterpiece, Tom Jones (1749), is widely considered one of the greatest comic novels in English and was a critical and commercial success. Fielding's novels are known for their realistic portrayal of the English countryside, their humor, and their satirical edge.

Legal Career

Parallel to his literary career, Fielding was deeply involved in the legal system. He studied law at the Middle Temple and was called to the bar in 1740. However, his legal career did not truly begin until 1748 when he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Westminster and Middlesex. In this role, Fielding was confronted with the rampant crime in London and took significant steps to address it. He established the Bow Street Runners, which is considered the first professional police force in England. Fielding's efforts in law enforcement and his writings on crime and social reform contributed significantly to the development of the modern legal system.

Personal Life and Death

Fielding married Charlotte Craddock in 1734, who was the inspiration for some of his most memorable female characters. They had several children, but only five survived to adulthood. After Charlotte's death in 1744, Fielding married Mary Daniel, who was pregnant with his child. Fielding's health began to decline in the early 1750s, and he died in Lisbon, Portugal, on 8 October 1754, where he had gone to seek a cure for his ailments.

Legacy

Henry Fielding's legacy as a novelist and satirist is profound. His works have influenced generations of writers and remain central to the canon of English literature. His innovative contributions to the development of the novel as a form and his role in establishing a more organized system of law enforcement in England mark him as a significant figure in both literary and legal history.