JOHN, a political writer, was born at Bideford in Devonshire, in the year 1709. He received the rudiments of his education at the free grammar school of Exeter. It has been often obferved, that the future life of a man may be gathered from his puerile character; and accordingly Shebbeare, while a boy at school, gave the strongest indications of his future eminence in misanthropv and learning, by the extraordinary tenaciousnefs of his memory and the readiness of his wit, as well as the malignity of his disposition; being universally regarded as a young man of surprising genius, while at the fame time he was defpifed for his malicious temper.

About the age of 16, Shebbeare was bound apprentice to an eminent surgeon in his native town, under whom he acquired a confiderable share of medical knowledge. His talent for lampoon appeared at this early period, and he could not forbear from exercifing it on his matter; but the chief marks for the arrows of his wit were the gentlemen of the corporation, fome of whom laughed at fuch trifles, while fuch as were irritable often commenced prosecutions againft him, but without fuc-cess. He was frequently summoned to appear at the feffions, for daring to speak and write difrepectfully of the magistrates; but the laugh was always on the fide of Shebbeare.

When his time was out, he set up for himfelf, then difcovering a taste for chemistry; foon after which he married an amiable young woman with no fortune, but of refpectable connections. Failing in bufines at Bideford, he went to Bristol in 1736, entering into partnership with a chemift, and never afterwards vifited his native town.

The attention of the public was, in the year 1739, attracted by an epitaph to the memory of Thomas Cofter, Esq. M. P. for Bristol, in which he contrived to raife emotions of pity, grief, and indignation. In the following year he published a pamphlet on the Bristol waters, after which we know little or nothing regarding him for a number of years. He was at Paris in 1752, where he obtained, it is faid, the degree of doctor in medicine, a fact, however, which many are disposed to question.

About this time he began to emerge from obscurity, and draw the attention of the public, by pamphlets written with such virulence and celerity as it would be difficult to equal in the most intemperate times. In 1754 he commenced his career with a work denominated the Marriage Act, a political novel, in which he treated the legislature with such freedom that he was apprehended, but soon after set at liberty.

The most celebrated performances, however, were a series of letters to the People of England, written in a vigorous and energetic style, well calculated to make an impression on common readers; and they were of course read with avidity, and diligently circulated. They galled the ministry, who at first were too eager to punish the author. When the third letter was published, warrants were issued by Lord Holdernesse in March 1756, to take up both the publisher and the author; a prosecution which appears to have been dropt. On the 12th of January 1758, the same nobleman signed a general warrant for apprehending the author, printer, and publishers of a wicked, audacious, and treasonable libel, entitled, "A fifth letter to the people of England, on the progress of national ruin, in which it is shewn that the present grandeur of France and calamities of this nation are owing to the influence of Hanover on the councils of England;" and them having found, to seize and apprehend, together with their books and papers.

Government having received information that a seventh letter was in the press, all the copies were seized and suppressed by virtue of another warrant, dated January 23. In Easter term an information was filed against him by the attorney-general, and on the 17th of June the information was tried, when Shebbeare was found guilty; and on the 28th of November he received sentence, by which he was fined £1, ordered to stand in the pillory December 5, at Charing Cross, to be confined three years, and to give security for his good behaviour for seven years, himself in £50l. and two others in £20l. each. During his confinement, he declared he never received as presents more than 20 guineas from all the world.

He was detained in prison during the whole time of the sentence, and with some degree of rigour; for when his life was in danger from a bad state of health, and he applied to the court of King's-bench for permission to be carried into the rules a few hours in a day; though Lord Mansfield acceded to the petition, the prayer of it was denied and defeated by Judge Foster. At the termination of the time of his sentence, a new reign commenced; and shortly afterwards, during Mr. Grenville's administration, a pension of 200l. a-year was granted him by the crown, through the influence of Sir John Philips; and he ever after became devoted to the service of government. He was of course abused in almost every periodical work, which he seems in general to have had the good sense to neglect. Dr Smollet introduced him, in no very respectful light, under the name of Ferret, in Sir Launcelot Greaves; and Mr Hogarth made him one of the group in the third election print.

During the latter part of his life he seems to have written but little. He strenuously supported the ministry during the American war, having published, in 1775, an answer to the printed speech of Edmund Shebbeare, Burke, Esq. spoken in the house of commons, April 19.

1774, wherein he investigates his knowledge of policy, legislature, human kind, history, commerce, and finance; his arguments are examined; the conduct of administration is boldly defended, and his talents as an orator clearly exposed to view. An essay on the origin, progress, and establishment of National Society; in which the principles of government, the definition of physical, moral, civil, and religious liberty contained in Dr Price's observations, &c. are examined and controverted; together with a justification of the legislature in reducing America to obedience by force.

His publications of a satirical, political, and medical nature, amount to 34, besides a novel, called Filial Piety, in which hypocrisy and blustering courage are very properly chaffed. He died on the 1st of August 1788, leaving behind him the character of a benevolent man among those who were best acquainted with him; a character which, from the manner he speaks of his connections, he probably deserved.