William Congreve (24 January, 1670 – 19 January, 1729) was a playwright and poet from England, who wrote clever, satirical comedies.
- Born in Bardsey Grange, which is near Ledston, West Yorkshire now a village and civil parish.
- Mr. Congreve went to Kilkenny College meeting Jonathan Swift. He later went to Trinity College but moved to London to study medicine.
- In 1692 he published Incognita: or, Love and Duty reconcil’d under the pseudonym Cleophil which gained him recognition among England’s intellectual class.
- Though meetings with other literary persons he met poet and playwright John Dryden and became his devoted student.
- Mr. Dryden supported Congreve throughout his life.
- In 1693 Mr. Congreve became famous throughout England by writing several popular plays, rave reviews by John Dryden helped.
- He was a minor politician in the British Whig Party, and was appointed by George I to a position in Jamaica.
- During his time in Jamaica he stopped writing plays (his style went out of favor in England), and concentrated on poetry and translated works of Homer and others.
- Even though he was never married, Mr. Congreve was rumored to have been together with several actresses and noblewomen.
- In 1728 Mr. Congreve was in a carriage accident and never managed to recover. He passed away several months later in London.
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Fun Facts Friday: William Congreve
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William Congreve (24 January, 1670 – 19 January, 1729) was a playwright and poet from England, who wrote clever, satirical comedies.
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Man of la Book
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Man of la Book - A Bookish Blog
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