FARMER, Richard, D. D., a scholar and critic of considerable
Farmer. considerable eminence, was the son of a hosier at Leicester, at which place he was born in the year 1735. Here he received the rudiments of his education, and was afterwards a student at Cambridge, and pensioner of Emanuel college. He was considered as a young man well acquainted with books, was much esteemed among his friends, and looked upon as possessed of lively parts, even before he acquired any extraordinary reputation as a scholar. He was made B. A. in 1757, and M. A. in 1760. Seven years after this period, having been for some time a curate, he took the degree of B. D. and became a preacher at Whitehall. Besides the attention he paid to the Grecian and Roman authors, he prosecuted the study of books in his own language, printed on black-letter, which laid the foundation of a work that added more to his literary reputation than any other performance. This was "An Essay on the learning of Shakespeare," which he published in 1766. Men of letters had long turned their attention to the learning of Shakespeare, in order to ascertain its real extent. It could not be questioned that he was acquainted with the history and mythology of the ancients, but it was still a matter of dispute from what sources that acquaintance was derived. To obviate this difficulty, Mr Farmer's knowledge of books enabled him to demonstrate, that translations of the far greater part of classical authors were to be met with in the time of the celebrated dramatist; and as he proved that Shakespeare had even copied the blunders and errors of such translations, he made it manifest beyond the possibility of a rational doubt, that he was wholly incapable of consulting the originals. This essay passed through three editions in a very short time; was much admired for the sprightliness of its composition, and the generality were persuaded that he had fully established his point.
This performance brought him so much into notice, as to become extremely favourable to his professional advancement. By the influence of Bishop Hurd, he procured the chancellorship and a prebend in the cathedral of Lichfield, and in 1775 he was elected master of Emanuel college, and took the degree of D. D. He was soon after constituted principal librarian to the university, and served in turn the office of vice-chancellor. He was made prebendary of Canterbury by Lord North, at that time prime minister, and Mr Pitt made him twice an offer of a bishopric; but the constraints and solemnity of the episcopal character were not congenial to his natural temper, on which account he declined the offer, and having resigned his office as prebendary, he accepted of a residentiaryship of St Paul's. This obliged him to reside three months annually in London, which he spent with pleasure and advantage in the company of literary characters. From nature he inherited a fund of good humour, and was of such an obliging turn, that he buried party spirit in the satisfaction which he found in the performance of beneficent actions. Though in general an enemy to reforms of any kind, and anxious to preserve things as they were, both in the church and state, he was instrumental in amending the police of Cambridge, especially as it related to the paving and lighting of the streets. At his instigation also, monumental sculpture was admitted into the cathedral of St Paul's, which will continue to exhibit a striking proof of national gratitude, and serve to cover the nakedness of the walls.
It was at one time the intention of Dr Farmer to publish a history of the town and antiquities of Leicester, the expenses to be defrayed by subscription; but either his independent circumstances, or a degree of native indolence, made him relinquish the design, and the few materials he had collected were given to Mr John Nichols, at that time engaged in an elaborate work on the same subject. After a painful illness of some length, Dr Farmer died at Emanuel college in the month of September, 1797, in the 62d year of his age. Dr Parr wrote an epitaph for his tombstone, in which we find the following testimony to his worth. "Vir facetus et dulcis, felique sermonis, Grecè et Latine doctus, in explicanda veterum Anglorum poësi subtilis et elegans." He had a considerable library, in which were a vast number of books purchased at the stalls of London, and afterwards disposed of for much more than they cost.