Who was Ralph Allen and how did he help Henry Fielding?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's Works (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth — Henry Fielding Henry Fielding, frontispiece to Fielding's *Works* (1st ed., 1762), engraving by James Basire after a drawing by William Hogarth

Ralph Allen was an 18th-century philanthropist and a friend of the English author Henry Fielding.

Allen provided crucial financial support to Fielding during a period of significant personal and professional hardship. At the time, Fielding was struggling with gout, the death of his young daughter, and his wife's poor health, all of which created unpropitious circumstances for his writing. Allen’s generosity temporarily rescued Fielding from these financial difficulties.

Fielding later honored his friend by basing the character of Mr. Allworthy on Allen in his famous novel, Tom Jones.1