HOOKE, NATHANIEL, the author of a History of Rome, was born in Ireland, but in what year is unknown. His Roman History embraces the period extending from the foundation of the city to the time of Augustus. It was published in 4 vols. 4to, at intervals of nearly forty years between the appearance of the first and last volumes. He had died before the publication of vols. 3 and 4. His work possesses the virtues of acuteness and clearness. In opposition to Middleton, he defended the cause of the Plebeians against the Patricians. Hooke was a zealous Catholic. When Pope was dying, a priest was brought to hear his confession and grant him absolution. This priest was brought by Hooke. He had been employed and well paid by the Duchess of Marlborough for assisting her in writing her memoirs, but he was so zealous in attempting to convert the Duchess to Catholicism that a quarrel was the consequence. He was one of the sufferers from the South Sea Bubble. Besides his Roman History, he wrote Observations upon the Roman Senate, 4to, 1758, in which he advocated and extended the political views propounded in
his History. He also translated from the French the Vie de Fenelon, and Ramsay's Voyages de Cyrus. He died in July 1763.