Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Boaden, James

by Arthur Henry Bullen

BOADEN, JAMES (1762–1839), biographer, dramatist, and journalist, was the son of William Boaden, a merchant in the Russia trade. He was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, on 23 May 1762, and at an early age came with his parents to London, where he was educated for commerce. After serving some time in a counting-house he turned his attention to journalism, and in 1789 was appointed editor of the 'Oracle' newspaper, which had been started in that year as a rival to the 'World.' Boaden's first dramatic piece was 'Osmyn and Daraxa, a Musical Romance,' acted in 1793. His next play, 'Fontainville Forest,' 1794, 8vo, founded on Mrs. Radcliffe's 'Romance of the Forest,' was received with much applause at Covent Garden. About this time Boaden entered himself of the Middle Temple, but does not appear to have been called to the bar. From 1795 to 1803 he continued to write plays which were well received. The titles of these are:

1. 'The Secret Tribunal,' 1795, 8vo.
2. 'Italian Monk,' 1797, 8vo, founded on Mrs. Radcliffe's novel of the same name.
3. 'Cambro Britons,' 1798, 8vo.
4. 'Aurelio and Miranda,' 1799, 8vo.
5. 'Voice of Nature,' 1803, 8vo.
6. 'Maid of Bristol,' 1803, 8vo.

In 1796 Boaden addressed to George Steevens, the Shakespearean commentator, 'A Letter containing a Critical Examination of the Papers of Shakespeare published by Mr. Samuel Ireland,' 8vo. He stated clearly in this letter his grounds for believing the Ireland papers to be spurious; but he did not attempt to deny that he, like so many others, had been at first deceived. In reply to this letter appeared an anonymous pamphlet, entitled 'A Comparative Review of the Opinions of Mr. James Boaden (editor of the "Oracle") in February, March, and April 1795, and of James Boaden, Esq. (author of "Fontainville Forest" and of a "Letter to George Steevens, Esq.") in February 1796, relative to the Shakespeare MSS. By a Friend to Consistency.' The 'Friend to Consistency' (James Wyatt) pointed out that Boaden had been most enthusiastic about the 'invaluable remains of our immortal bard' when they were first presented to the public. In later life Boaden applied himself to the writing of biographies of celebrated actors and actresses. His 'Life of Kemble' (with whom he had been on terms of intimacy), in two volumes, 8vo, appeared in 1825. It was followed by the 'Life of Mrs. Siddons,' 1827, 2 vols. 8vo, and 'Life of Mrs. Jordan,' 1831, 2 vols. 8vo. These memoirs are very pleasant reading; the style is easy and genial, and the author is careful to state his facts with accuracy. In 1833 Boaden published his 'Memoirs of Mrs. Inchbald,' 2 vols. 8vo, to which were added some dramatic pieces published (for the first time) from Mrs. Inchbald's manuscripts. Boaden's attempts at novel-writing are of little interest, though they were esteemed 'ingenious performances' in their day. 'The Man of Two Lives' is the title of one, and the 'Doom of Giallo, or the Vision of Judgment,' 1835, 2 vols. 8vo, of the other. In 1824 appeared 'An Inquiry into the Authenticity of the various Pictures and Prints of Shakespeare,' and in 1837 a tract of considerable interest 'On the Sonnets of Shakespeare, identifying the person to whom they are addressed, and elucidating several points in the Poet's History.' The writer maintains that the Mr. W. H. to whom the sonnets were dedicated was William Herbert, afterwards Earl of Pembroke, a view which has been adopted by many later scholars. The essay first appeared in some numbers of the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1832. Boaden died on 16 Feb. 1839. He was a man of amiable manners and wide information; witty in conversation and possessed of a good store of anecdotes. He left nine children, of whom John [q. v.] was an artist, and another (a daughter) inherited a facility for play-writing.

[Gent. Mag. 1839, pp. 437–8; Biographia Dramatica, ed. Stephen Jones, 1812; Boaden's Works.]

A. H. B.