‘Citizen Sheridan’ and the People: The Extra-Parliamentary Life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1780-1816

‘Citizen Sheridan’ and the People: The Extra-Parliamentary Life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1780-1816

‘The Political Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’ Leverhulme Trust project is delighted to invite applications for a fully funded PhD scholarship worth £53,577 to begin on 1 July 2017 (or as near as possible). The project, led by Professor Martyn Powell (Aberystwyth) and Dr Robert Jones (Leeds) will recover and reappraise the political career of the Irish-born playwright and MP Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) via the publication of a scholarly edition of Sheridan’s complete political works.

The PhD, supervised by Professor Martyn Powell, will examine Sheridan’s work across several media, including his contributions to the press and his role as dramatist and theatrical manager. Using archives in the UK and abroad, the PhD will examine the ways in which Sheridan operated in the public sphere from the latter stages of the American war to his death. It will explore Sheridan’s own relationships with printers, his political writings, and the way in which they connected with his theatrical pursuits. His position as a celebrity will also be important here, and will be considered in the light of his success in the Stafford constituency and his multifarious associational connections, including membership of the famous Literary Club and the radical Friends of the People. These connections provide an interdisciplinary insight into Sheridan’s politics, but do not necessarily detract from his seriousness as a politician.

Primarily based in the Department of History and Welsh History at Aberystwyth University, the student will be a key member of the Sheridan project team (which includes researchers based in Leeds). Appropriate research training will be provided and the student will be a member of Aberystwyth University’s Centre for Media History and based within the history department’s PhD community. During the course of the PhD, the student will be given opportunities to contribute to lectures and seminars on relevant undergraduate modules (mentored by an assigned member of staff).

Applicants should have an outstanding undergraduate record with a degree in History or English and ideally some relevant research experience at Masters level. The scholarship pays the equivalent of UK/EU tuition fees and a maintenance grant of up to £13,800 per annum for three years of full-time doctoral studies (subject to satisfactory progress). The candidate will also have access to travel funds as part of the Leverhulme project research.

Please apply using the standard PhD application procedures at

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/

In your application, please indicate the name of the scholarship you are interested in, ‘The Political Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’, and give ’Leverhulme Trust’ as the funding body. You should also include a personal statement of up to 1,000 words detailing your research experience and why you are suitable for this scholarship.

The deadline for applications is 31 January 2017.

We will conduct interviews early in April 2017.

To make an informal inquiry or for further information, please contact Prof Martyn Powell on [Email Address Removed]