Matthew Taubman (died 1690?) was a Poet Laureate of London.
Life[]
Taubman seems to have been a keen observer of party politics during the troublous period of the popish plot. He made his earliest appearance as a rhymester with An Heroic Poem to his Royal Highness the Duke of York on his return from Scotland; with some choice Songs and Medleyes on the Times (London, 1682, folio), with the musical notes of most of the songs. The duke is apostrophised affectionately as "Old Jemmy" and "Royal Jemmy." A similar vein of familiar loyalty marks his 2nd volume called Loyal Poems and Satyrs upon the Times since the beginning of the Salamanca Plot, written by several hands collected by M. Taubman (London, 1685, 8vo). The songs in this medley are directed chiefly against plot fabricators, "whigs and trimmers."[1]
Taubman succeeded Thomas Jordan as laureate of the lord mayor's show in 1685, when he produced London's Annual Triumph (lord mayor, Sir R. Jeffreys), and received a fee of 10l. for his lucubration (London, 4to; Bodleian and Guildhall libraries). Next year his London's Yearly Jubilee graced the inauguration of Sir John Peake (London, 1686, 4to; Brit. Mus.; Guildhall Library).[1]
His London's Triumph; or, The goldsmiths jubilee, ushered in Sir John Shorter of that company (London, 1687, 4to; Brit. Mus.; Bodleian, and Guildhall). On this occasion James II dined with the lord mayor, accompanied by Prince George of Denmark and other distinguished personages, including the pope's nuncio. Taubman had some specially obsequious verses for the occasion, pronouncing the loss of the city's charter to be more than compensated by the king's indulgence. London's Anniversary Festival, for the mayoralty of Sir John Chapman, embodied the bard's gratitude "to the son of the martyr, who restor'd us the charter" (London, 1688, 4to; Bodleian and Brit. Mus.).[1]
The next year, with a versatility worthy of his successor, Elkanah Settle, Taubman adapted his eulogies to the ears of the new sovereigns in London's Great Jubilee (London, 1689, 4to; Brit. Mus. and Guildhall). This pageant was revived on 9 November 1761, and it was reprinted in Somers Tracts (1751, iii.).[1]
Taubman probably died in 1690, in which year there is no trace of the usual festivity. In 1691 the pageant was the work of Elkanah Settle.[1]
Writing[]
Taubman was much inferior to his predecessor, Thomas Jordan, and was probably the least and the dullest of all the city laureates.[1]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- An Heroic Poem to his Royal Highness the Duke of York on his return from Scotland; with some choice Songs and Medleyes on the Times. London: John Smith, 1682.
Plays[]
- London's Annual Triumph (London, 1685
- London's Yearly Jubilee. London: H. Playford, 1686.
- London's Triumph; or, The goldsmiths jubilee. London: J. Leake, 1687.
- London's Anniversary Festival. London: J. Fleming, 1688.
- London's Great Jubilee. London, Langley Curtiss, 1689.
Edited[]
- Loyal Poems and Satyrs upon the Times since the beginning of the Salamanca Plot, written by several hands collected by M. Taubman. London: John Smith, 1685.
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[2]
See also[]
| Preceded by Thomas Jordan |
Poet to the Corporation of London 1685-1689 |
Succeeded by Elkanah Settle |
References[]
Seccombe, Thomas (1898) "Taubman, Matthew" in Lee, Sidney Dictionary of National Biography 55 London: Smith, Elder, p. 390 . Wikisource, Web, Mar. 7, 2018.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Books
- Matthew Taubman at Amazon.com
- About
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Taubman, Matthew
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