Background
The son of a clergyman, he was born at Bridekirk near Cockermouth, Cumberland.
The son of a clergyman, he was born at Bridekirk near Cockermouth, Cumberland.
He was educated at Street Bees School 1695–1701, and in 1701 entered The Queen"s College, Oxford, taking his Master of Arts
Degree in 1709. He became fellow of his college in the next year, and in 1711 University Reader or Professor of Poetry. Tickell acquired the name ‘Whigissimus’, because of his close association with the Whig parliamentary party. In 1717 he was appointed Under Secretary to Joseph Addison, Secretary of State.
In 1724 Tickell was appointed secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland, a post which he retained until his death in 1740, at Bath.
Tickell owned a house and small estate in Glasnevin on the banks of the River Tolka, which later became the site of the Botanic Gardens. A double line of yew trees (known as Addison’s Walk) from Tickell’s garden is incorporated into the Gardens.
They had four surviving children, including John, father of Richard. We have it on the authority of Samuel Johnson that Tickell was a devoted family man and temperate in his habits.
