Sir Richard was born about the year 1676, in Ireland, but of English parents. At a very early age he was sent from Dublin to London, and was educated with Addison at the Charter House; from hence he removed to Merton College, Oxford; he left the University without taking a degree, and entered the army, a step highly displeasing to his friends. However, as he had a constant flow of good nature, a generous frankness of spirit, and a sparkling vivacity of wit, these qualities rendered him the delight of the soldiery, and having made choice of a profession which set him free from all the ordinary restraints in youth, he indulged his inclinations in the wildest excesses. He became Secretary to Lord Cutts, who obtained for him the rank of captain in Lord Lucas’s regiment of Fusileers; and, in the beginning of Queen Anne’s reign, he was appointed to the profitable place of Gazetteer, to which he had been recommended by Mr. Addison. Steele had already exhibited his talents as a dramatic writer with success, and in 1709 he began to publish “The Tatler,” which was undertaken by him in concert with Dr. Swift, and others; and by this work his reputation was perfectly established. This was followed by “The Spectator,” which was carried on chiefly by the assistance of his friend Addison, and the success of this paper being still superior to that of the former, encouraged him to proceed in the same design in the character of “The Guardian.” * * * * * In 1710 Sir Richard was made a Commissioner of the Stamp Duties, which office he resigned in 1713; and from a placeman he became a violent oppositionist. He took his seat in the House of Commons as Member for Stockbridge, in Hampshire, but was expelled thence in a few days after for writing several seditious libels. From this time till the death of Queen Anne his attention was wholly engrossed in writing and publishing political tracts. {107} * * * * * On the accession of George I. he was again taken into favour; was appointed Surveyor to the Royal Stables at Hampton Court, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him, and during the whole of this reign continued to receive many marks of the royal bounty. * * * * * It might now naturally be imagined that, taught by ample experience, Sir Richard would pay some attention to economy: such, however, was the power of habit, and such was his thoughtless profusion, that scarcely a twelvemonth had passed before he was obliged to sell his share in a theatre to relieve the oppressive exigencies of want. In 1725 he surrendered the whole of his property to his creditors, and retired to Wales, where, in the following year, he was seized with a paralytic stroke, which rendered him incapable of any further literary effort. * * * * *