Oliver Goldsmith was born about 1730, probably at Pallas, in County Westmeath, the second son of the Reverend Charles Goldsmith. His father became curate of Kilkenny West and the family moved to Lissoy, where Goldsmith grew up. He was educated at local schools from about 1737 to 1745, when he entered Trinity College, Dublin. He graduated in 1750, despite being involved in a student riot in 1747 (the year in which his father died). Having failed to get ordained in the Church of Ireland he became tutor to a family living in County Roscommon. He made journeys to Cork, perhaps with the intention of emigrating to America, and to Dublin, with the intention of studying law in London. These plans came to nothing. In 1752 he entered the Universit

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First published 30 June 2002

Citation: Baines, Paul. "Oliver Goldsmith". The Literary Encyclopedia. 30 June 2002.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5211, accessed 9 February 2010.]