William Godwin's Diary

Boswell, Sir Alexander (first baronet)

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This person is mentioned in the diary a total of 14 times, but was not at home (N) 2 times, and was a venue (V) 2 times.

You may also examine their meals and meetings in more detail.

1803

7  December  1803

1806

2  January  1806

1816

14  April  1816 16  April  1816 19  April  1816 (V) 24  June  1816 25  June  1816 8  July  1816

1817

15  February  1817 12  April  1817 (N) 19  April  1817 (NV)

1819

29  June  1819

1822

24  February  1822 27  March  1822

  • Name: Boswell, Sir Alexander (first baronet)
  • Gender: Male
  • Birth Date: 9  October  1775
  • Death Date: 27  March  1822
  • Occupation: politician

Boswell was a poet who was part of Sir Walter Scott's circle and a great admirer of Robert Burns. An ardent tory, he won a seat in parliament in 1816 where he opposed parlimentary reform. He was the son of James Boswell, the literary scholar and friend of Dr Johnson.

The surprising thing about the entries is that most are to Boswell, rather than Boswel – which would be Godwin’s customary style. This might suggest that Godwin's references to them/him are influenced by his visual memory of the father's name and work.

There are three 'A Boswell’s in 1817 and two in 1819 which might suggest that Godwin is distinguishing Alexander from earlier entries to his brother James Boswell, whose death is also noted in the diary. But it may be that the A Boswell is simply being introduced as a distinction after he has already made his acquaintance – perhaps a distinction made because he is now appearing in London, rather than Edinburgh. Many of the encounters are with literary people which could just as easily be acquaintances of James who was a significant Shakespeare editor.

Godwin first meets Boswell in London (1806) at Joseph Johnson’s which could be either brother given their literary interests. There are then a group of meetings in Edinburgh when Godwin visits: Jeffrey and Boswell, (Francis Jeffrey editor of the Edinburgh Review, identified in Godwin’s letter to Mary Jane on 14 April 1816) ; shop: Morrit and Boswell (possibly Scott’s friend John Morritt, traveller and classical scholar, but no supporting evidence from letters to Mary Jane); dine at Boswell’s with Mackenzie and fille (possibly Henry Mackenzie – identified as such by St Clair, but there is no corroboration in the letters to Mary Jane). Then in June he meets Boswell in London, and the following day dines with Constable, Ballantine (probably John Ballantyne, publisher and literary agent), Owen, Poole, L Kenney; and a week later he dines at Poole’s with Boswell, H Smith (possibly Horatio Smith, writer and humorist), Barber, Denham, Stevenson and Alderson. There are then the three A Boswell’s in 1817 and a call on Boswell, a meet in 1819, and the recording of the proximate deaths of the two brothers.

Given the strong connection with Scotland and Scottish publishing circles it seems plausible that the Boswell whom Godwin meets in Edinburgh and then subsequently in London is more likely to be Alexander, but it is difficult to be completely confident. However, in a letter to William junior, Godwin says that the Boswell they know is Alexander Boswell . Thus, all Boswells have been coded as Alexander.

  • MS. Abinger c. 28, fol. 60: not dated
  • MS. Abinger c. 42, fols. 98-9: 14 April 1816
  • DNB

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.

Name Number of Meetings
Poole, John 2
Johnson, Joseph 1
Smith, Horatio (Horace) 1
Holcroft, Louisa (née Mercier) 1
Owen, Robert 1
Ballantyne, John 1
Constable, Archibald 1
Jeffrey, Francis 1
Mackenzie, Henry 1
Hunter, Captain 1
Bonnycastle, John 1
Fuseli, Henry (Johann Heinrich Füssli) 1
Alderson, Dr James 1