Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley
(1751-1816)
   Dramatist and orator, b. in Dublin, the s. of an actor, was ed. at Harrow. In 1772 he eloped with Miss Linley, a famous singer, went with her to France, fought two duels, and m. her in 1773. S. has a reputation of the highest in two distinct walks, those of the dramatist and the Parliamentary orator. By his three great comedies, The Rivals (1775), The School for Scandal (1777), and The Critic (1779), he raised himself to the first place among the writers of the comedy of manners; and by his speeches, specially those in support of the impeachment of Warren Hastings, he has a position among the greatest of Parliamentary orators. Unfortunately he had little turn for business, and too great a love of pleasure and conviviality, which led to lifelong pecuniary embarrassment, completed by the destruction by fire of Drury Lane Theatre, of which he had become proprietor. As a politician S. supported the Whig party, and held the offices of Under-Sec. for Foreign Affairs, Sec. to the Treasury, and Treasurer of the Navy. He was also confidential adviser to George IV. when Prince of Wales, but like everybody else who had to do with him suffered from the ingratitude of "the first gentleman in Europe." The accounts long prevalent of the poverty and misery of his last years have been shown to be greatly exaggerated, though he was in reduced circumstances. As a dramatist S. shines in the construction of amusing situations, and in a sparkling flow of witty dialogue which never flags. His only other play was Pizarro (1799), a patriotic melodrama.
   Lives by Walkins (1817), T. Moore (1825), and Mrs. Oliphant (1883).

Short biographical dictionary of English literature . . 2011.

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  • Sheridan,Richard Brinsley — Sheridan, Richard Brinsley. 1751 1816. British playwright and politician known for his satirical comedies of manners, including The Rivals (1775), which features the catachrestic character Mrs. Malaprop. * * * …   Universalium

  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley — ▪ Irish playwright Introduction baptized Nov. 4, 1751, Dublin, Ire. died July 7, 1816, London, Eng.       Irish born playwright, impresario, orator, and Whig politician. His plays, notably The School for Scandal (1777), form a link in the history …   Universalium

  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley — (1751 1816)    Born in Dublin, the grandson of Thomas Sheridan (see entry), he was educated at Harrow school, Middlesex. Living in Bath, in 1770, Sheridan fell in love with Eliza Linley, daughter of a music teacher, and the pair eloped to France… …   British and Irish poets

  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (Butler) — (baptized Nov. 4, 1751, Dublin, Ire. died July 7, 1816, London, Eng.) British playwright, orator, and politician. His family moved to England, and he was educated at Harrow School in London. He rejected a legal career for the theatre. His comedy… …   Universalium

  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (Butler) — (bautizado 4 nov. 1751, Dublín, Irlanda–7 jul. 1816, Londres, Inglaterra). Dramaturgo, orador y político británico. Su familia se mudó a Inglaterra, y se educó en Harrow School en Londres. Desestimó la carrera de abogacía por el teatro. Su… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Sheridan, Richard Brinsley — ► (1751 1816) Autor dramático y político irlandés. Autor de la comedia Los rivales (1775) …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Richard Brinsley Sheridan — (* 30. Oktober 1751 in Dublin; † 7. Juli 1816 in London[1]) war ein irischer Dramatiker und Politiker. Leben …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Brinsley Sheridan — (30 October 1751 ndash; 7 July 1816) was an Irish playwright and Whig statesman. Early life R.B. Sheridan was born in Dublin on 30 October 1751 at 12 Dorset Street, a fashionable street in the late eighteenth century. (Fellow playwright Seán O… …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Brinsley Sheridan — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Sheridan. Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Sheridan, né à Dublin le 30 octobre  …   Wikipédia en Français

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