Thomas Sheridan was born in Quilca, County Cavan, and was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Dublin. He was an actor and appeared in Covent Garden, Drury Lane and Smock Alley, where he became manager. He went to England, where he enjoyed great success as a teacher of elocution. He befriended Samuel Johnston, but lost his friendship when he proposed to publish a dictionary of pronunciation. Among his publications are A General Dictionary of the English Language, and he edited The Works of Swift in eighteen volumes. Swift was his godfather, and he himself was the father of Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

Born:	c.1719
Died:	14 August 1788