Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Monro, Thomas (1764-1815)
MONRO, THOMAS (1764–1815), miscellaneous writer, son of the Rev. Thomas Monro of Wargrave, Berkshire, was born 9 Oct. 1764. He was nephew of Dr. Alexander Monro primus [q. v.], and first cousin of Dr. Alexander Monro secundus [q. v.] He was educated in the free schools of Colchester and Norwich under Dr. Samuel Parr [q. v.], who always held him in high regard. On 11 July 1782 he matriculated at St. Mary Hall, Oxford, and in 1783 he was elected to a demyship at Magdalen College, which he resigned on his marriage, 7 June 1797. He graduated B.A. in 1787, and M.A. in 1791. He was curate of Selborne, Hampshire, from 1798 till 1800, when he was presented by Lord Maynard to the rectory of Little Easton, Essex, where he died on 25 Sept. 1815.
His works are: 1. 'Olla Podrida, a Periodical Work,' comprising forty-eight weekly numbers, Oxford, 1787, fol.; 2nd edit. London, 1788, 8vo; reprinted in Lynam's edition of the 'British Essayists,' vol. xxviii. (London, 1827, 12mo). In conducting this periodical, of which he was the projector and editor, he was assisted by Bishop Horne, then president of Magdalen College, Messrs. Headley, Kett, Gower, and other Oxford men. 2. 'Essays on various Subjects,' London, 1790, 8vo. 3. 'Alciphron's Epistles; in which are described the Domestic Manners, the Courtesans, and Parasites of Greece. Now first translated from the Greek,' London, 1791, 8vo, by Monro and William Beloe [q. v.] 4. 'Modern Britons, and Spring in London,' London, 1792. 5. 'Philoctetes in Lemnos. A Drama in three acts. To which is prefixed A Greenroom Scene, exhibiting a Sketch of the present Theatrical Taste: inscribed with due Deference to the Managers of Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres by their humble servant, Oxoniensis,' London, 1795, 8vo (cf. Baker, Biog. Dram. ed. Reed and Jones, iii. 144).
[Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816, p. 238; Bloxam's Magd. Coll. Registers, vii. 77, 81; Foster's Alumni Oxon., later ser. iii. 970; Gent. Mag. October 1815, p. 378; Johnstone's Life of Parr, i. 163, 211, 558, vii. 441; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. (Bohn), p. 26; Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. vii. 340; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 40, 77, 91, 95, 124, 158, x. 630; Notes and Queries, 7th ser. ii. 407, 449.]