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William Cartwright (dramatist)

November 23, 2023

William Cartwright (1 September 1611 – 29 November 1643) was an English poet, dramatist and churchman.

William Cartwright
Born(1611-09-01)1 September 1611
Northway, Gloucestershire
Died29 November 1643(1643-11-29) (aged 32)
LanguageEnglish
NationalityEnglish
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
Genreplaywright

Early life edit

Cartwright was born at Northway, Gloucestershire, the son of William Cartwright of Heckhampton, Gloucestershire. He was educated at the free school of Cirencester and at Westminster School. He matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford on 24 February 1632 aged 20, and was awarded BA on 5 June 1632. He was awarded MA on 15 April 1635.[1] Anthony Wood gives an account of his origin as son of a country gentleman turned innkeeper which is contradicted by statements made in David Lloyd's Memoirs.

Career edit

Cartwright became reader in metaphysics at Oxford University and was, according to Wood, the most florid and seraphical preacher in the university. In 1642 he was made succentor of Salisbury Cathedral, and in 1643 he was chosen junior proctor of the university.[2]

Cartwright was a successor to Ben Jonson and is often counted among the Sons of Ben, the group of dramatists who practised Jonson's style of comedy. The collected edition of his poems (1651) contains commendatory verses by Henry Lawes, who set some of his songs to music, by Izaak Walton, Alexander Brome, Henry Vaughan and others. Cartwright and Lawes maintained an important working relationship, for perhaps a decade prior to Cartwright's death in 1643; in one view, Lawes made a significant contribution to Cartwright's conception of drama.[3]

Though Cartwright has been listed among the 17th century dramatists known as the Sons of Ben, as they were to have been influenced by Ben Jonson, Cartwright's play The Ordinary has been described as a second-rate Jonsonian comedy, nothing more than a pale copy of an original. Some would perhaps argue that bad replication does not qualify Cartwright as a true Son of Ben.[2]

Civil War edit

Cartwright was nominated one of the council of war at Oxford in 1642. He died of camp fever (epidemic typhus) at Oxford aged 32 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral.[1] It is said that King Charles I of England wore mourning on the day of his funeral.

Works edit

His plays are, with the exception of The Ordinary, far-fetched in plot, and stilted and artificial in treatment. They are:

  • The Royal Slave (1636), produced by the students of Christ Church before the king and queen, with music by Henry Lawes
  • The Lady Errant (acted, 1635–1636; printed, 1651)
  • The Siege, or Love's Convert (printed 1651)

In The Ordinary (1635?) he produced a comedy of real life, in imitation of Jonson, representing pot-house society. It is reprinted in Robert Dodsley's Old Plays (ed. William Hazlitt, vol. xii.).

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b 'Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714: Cabell-Chafe', Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Abannan-Kyte (1891), pp. 228-254. Retrieved 1 November 2011
  2. ^ a b   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cartwright, William". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ Willa MaClung Evans, "Cartwright's Debt to Lawes," in: Music in English Renaissance Drama, John H. Long, ed. Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky Press, 1968.

References edit

External links edit

November 23, 2023
william, cartwright, dramatist, william, cartwright, september, 1611, november, 1643, english, poet, dramatist, churchman, william, cartwrightborn, 1611, september, 1611northway, gloucestershiredied29, november, 1643, 1643, aged, languageenglishnationalityengl. William Cartwright 1 September 1611 29 November 1643 was an English poet dramatist and churchman William CartwrightBorn 1611 09 01 1 September 1611Northway GloucestershireDied29 November 1643 1643 11 29 aged 32 LanguageEnglishNationalityEnglishAlma materChrist Church OxfordGenreplaywright Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Civil War 4 Works 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editCartwright was born at Northway Gloucestershire the son of William Cartwright of Heckhampton Gloucestershire He was educated at the free school of Cirencester and at Westminster School He matriculated from Christ Church Oxford on 24 February 1632 aged 20 and was awarded BA on 5 June 1632 He was awarded MA on 15 April 1635 1 Anthony Wood gives an account of his origin as son of a country gentleman turned innkeeper which is contradicted by statements made in David Lloyd s Memoirs Career editCartwright became reader in metaphysics at Oxford University and was according to Wood the most florid and seraphical preacher in the university In 1642 he was made succentor of Salisbury Cathedral and in 1643 he was chosen junior proctor of the university 2 Cartwright was a successor to Ben Jonson and is often counted among the Sons of Ben the group of dramatists who practised Jonson s style of comedy The collected edition of his poems 1651 contains commendatory verses by Henry Lawes who set some of his songs to music by Izaak Walton Alexander Brome Henry Vaughan and others Cartwright and Lawes maintained an important working relationship for perhaps a decade prior to Cartwright s death in 1643 in one view Lawes made a significant contribution to Cartwright s conception of drama 3 Though Cartwright has been listed among the 17th century dramatists known as the Sons of Ben as they were to have been influenced by Ben Jonson Cartwright s play The Ordinary has been described as a second rate Jonsonian comedy nothing more than a pale copy of an original Some would perhaps argue that bad replication does not qualify Cartwright as a true Son of Ben 2 Civil War editCartwright was nominated one of the council of war at Oxford in 1642 He died of camp fever epidemic typhus at Oxford aged 32 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral 1 It is said that King Charles I of England wore mourning on the day of his funeral Works editHis plays are with the exception of The Ordinary far fetched in plot and stilted and artificial in treatment They are The Royal Slave 1636 produced by the students of Christ Church before the king and queen with music by Henry Lawes The Lady Errant acted 1635 1636 printed 1651 The Siege or Love s Convert printed 1651 In The Ordinary 1635 he produced a comedy of real life in imitation of Jonson representing pot house society It is reprinted in Robert Dodsley s Old Plays ed William Hazlitt vol xii Notes edit a b Alumni Oxonienses 1500 1714 Cabell Chafe Alumni Oxonienses 1500 1714 Abannan Kyte 1891 pp 228 254 Retrieved 1 November 2011 a b nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Cartwright William Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Willa MaClung Evans Cartwright s Debt to Lawes in Music in English Renaissance Drama John H Long ed Lexington KY University of Kentucky Press 1968 References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Cartwright William Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 5 11th ed Cambridge University Press Bullen Arthur Henry 1887 Cartwright William 1611 1643 In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 9 London Smith Elder amp Co Flynn Dennis Cartwright William 1611 1643 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 4823 Subscription or UK public library membership required External links editWorks by or about William Cartwright at Internet Archive Works by William Cartwright at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Cartwright dramatist amp oldid 1137842684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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