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