Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Roderick, Richard
RODERICK, RICHARD (d. 1756), critic and versifier, a native of Cambridgeshire, was admitted pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge, on 20 Dec. 1728, and graduated B.A. in 1732. He subsequently became a fellow commoner of the college, and a grace was granted by the president and fellows for him to proceed to the degree of M.A. on 5 June 1736. On 19 Jan. 1742-3 he was admitted to a fellowship at Magdalene College, Cambridge, probably through the influence of Edward Abbot, master of Magdalene College (1740-6), who was his cousin. Roderick was elected F.R.S. on 21 June 1750, and F.S.A. on 6 Feb. 1752. He died on 20 July 1756.
Roderick was the intimate friend and coadjutor of Thomas Edwards [q. v.] in the latter's 'Canons of Criticism.' The 'Shepherd's Farewell to his Love,' from Metastasio, and the riddles that follow, which are inserted in Dodsley's 'Collection of Poetry' (ed. 1766, ii. 309-21), are by Roderick, and his translation of No. 13 in the Odes of Horace, book iv., is inserted in Duncombe's versions of Horace (ii. 248-9). Edwards dedicated No. xxxix. of his sonnets to Roderick.
[Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. Hist. i. 17-18, 24; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ii. 200; Gent. Mag. 1756 p. 412, 1780 p. 123; information from Queens' and Magdalene Colleges.]