TOBIN, JOHN (1770-1804).—­Dramatist, was for long unsuccessful, but in the year of his death made a hit with The Honey Moon, which had great success, and maintained its place for many years.  Other plays were The Curfew and The School for Authors.

TOLAND, JOHN (1670?-1722).—­Deistical writer, b. in Ireland of Roman Catholic parentage, completed his education at Glasgow, Edin., and Leyden.  Very early in life he had become a Protestant, and at Leyden he studied theology with the view of becoming a Nonconformist minister, but imbibed Rationalistic views.  He then resided for some time at Oxf., and in 1696 pub. his first work, Christianity not Mysterious, which was censured by Convocation and gave rise to much controversy.  Next year he returned to Ireland, where, however, he was not more popular than in England, and where his book was burned by the common hangman.  Returning to England he took to writing political pamphlets, including one, Anglia Libera, in support of the Brunswick succession, which gained him some favour at Hanover, and he was sent on some political business to the German Courts.  He then served Harley in Holland and Germany practically as a political spy.  His later years were passed in literary drudgery and poverty.  Among his numerous writings may be mentioned Account of Prussia and Hanover, Origines Judaicae, History of the Druids, and a Life of Milton prefixed to an ed. of his prose works.

TOOKE, JOHN HORNE (1736-1812).—­Philologist, s. of a poulterer called Horne, added the name of Tooke in 1782 in anticipation of inheriting from his friend W. Tooke, of Purley.  He was at Camb. and took orders, but disliking the clerical profession, travelled abroad.  Returning he became prominent as a radical politician, and espoused the cause of Wilkes, with whom, however, he afterwards quarrelled.  He also supported the revolted American colonists, and was fined and imprisoned for endeavouring to raise a subscription for them.  An effort to be admitted to the Bar was unsuccessful; and in 1786 he published his Diversions of Purley, a work on philology which brought him great reputation, and which, containing muck that has been proved to be erroneous, showed great learning and acuteness.  T. twice endeavoured unsuccessfully to enter Parliament for Westminster, but ultimately sat for the rotten burgh of Old Sarum, making, however, no mark in the House.  He was the author of numerous effective political pamphlets.

TOPLADY, AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE (1740-1778).—­Hymn-writer, s. of an officer in the army, was b. at Farnham, ed. at Westminster and Trinity Coll., Dublin, after which he took orders and became incumbent of Broad Hembury.  He was a strong Calvinist and entered into a bitter controversy with Wesley.  His controversial works are forgotten; but he will always be remembered as the author of “Rock of Ages,” perhaps the most widely known of English hymns.