Search the whole site
List of entries |  Feedback 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITAIN
 
  More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

 
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
Richard Brinsley Sheridan

(1751–1816)
Anglo-Irish playwright, born in Dublin but living in England from childhood. He achieved success in his twenties with The *Rivals and The *School for Scandal, and in 1776 succeeded David *Garrick as owner and manager of the *Drury Lane theatre. His wit and fame soon made him a figure in fashionable London, an intimate friend of the prince of Wales and of leading politicians. From 1780 he sat as a *Whig in the House of Commons and soon became known as an orator; his five-hour speech about the begums of Oudh in 1787 was considered so brilliant that he was appointed manager of the impeachment of Warren *Hastings.
 






Wildly extravagant and frequently drunk, he had ever-mounting debts which were not helped by the fire which destroyed Drury Lane in 1809 – though this did allow him one of his best witticisms. Rebuked for standing in the street with a glass in his hand, watching the disaster, he replied 'A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside'.
 








A  B-BL  BO-BX  C-CH  CI-CX  D  E  F  G  H  IJK  L  M  NO  P  QR  S-SL  SM-SX  T  UV  WXYZ 



Historyworld Home | About us | Attribution & copyright