Congreve, William

NAME:  Congreve, William

ACHIEVEMENTS:  Satirical dramatist

NICKNAME/ALIAS:  None

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:  January 24, 1670, Bardsley, (Leeds), Yorkshire

DATE/PLACE OF DEATH/AGE AT DEATH:  January 19, 1729, London, England. Aged 58

DISCIPLINE:  Dramatist

FIELD:  Theater

LANGUAGE:  English

PARENTS:  William Congreve; Mary Browning

SIBLINGS:  Brothers (number unknown) all died in infancy; Sisters unknown

SPOUSE:  None

CHILDREN:  Believed to have fathered one daughter by the 2nd Duchess of Marlborough: Lady Mary Godolphin, later Duchess of Leeds

EDUCATION:  Kilkenny school; Ireland Trinity College, Dublin Middle Temple law school

MAJOR WORK:  "The Old Bachelour", "The Double-Dealer", "Love for Love", "The Way of the World"

LIFE AND TIMES:

When Congreve's grandfather died in 1689, the family moved to London, where Congreve soon made a mark in the literary world.   In 1692 he published under the pseudonym Cleophil a piece he had drafted when he was 17: "Incognita: or Love and Duty Reconciled", a light-hearted romance. 

In the same year, he became a collaborator of poet/dramatist Dryden* and together they  translated the Latin poet Juvenal.  When Congreve showed Dryden his play "The Old Bachelour" Dryden said it was the best first play he had ever read and helped him edit it.  The play was accepted by Thomas Davenant, manager of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, and was first performed in 1693.  It had a long run for the time: 14 days.

Congreve next wrote the moralistic play, "The Double Dealer", creating the part of the virtuous Cynthia for the beautiful actress Anne Bracegirdle, whom he greatly admired.  The role of her would-be lover, Mellefont, was played by actor Cibber*.  It opened to a lukewarm reception: the crowd missed the bawdiness of "Bachelour".   But Congreve's friends rallied round (particularly satirist Swift*, who wrote a poem in praise of Congreve's talent).  The play was also given a boost when Queen Mary commanded a special performance.

At the end of 1694, Congreve had finished "Love for Love", but kept it out of performance until Anne Bracegirdle, whom he was still pursuing, was ready to act in it.  She had left Drury Lane and had joined the Betterton Players, a company run by fellow actors.  When this new group had settled in at Lincoln's Inn Fields, "Love for Love" was finally performed and was a hit.  Congreve accepted an offer of a share in the profits in exchange for writing a new play for the Betterton Players every year.

In 1695, Congreve was given a minor political office, one of the sinecures commonly handed out to literary men by their friends in power.  He was made one of the five commissioners for licensing hackney coaches,  and eventually became the sole commissioner when the other four quit after discovering he was getting half the apportioned money and they had to split the rest.

Also in 1695, Congreve wrote a verse lament on the death of Queen Mary.   In the same year, he spent the summer taking a health cure, suffering badly from dyspepsia, likely brought about by too much eating and drinking.  During the treatment he wrote a critical essay: "Concerning Humour in Comedy".   In 1696, he wrote: "Pindarique Ode, Humbly Offere'd to the King on his taking Namure".  In 1697, his tragedy, "The Mourning Bride" was put on by the Betterton Players and became his most popular play, but through the centuries it has lost much of its appeal.

Always faced with stiff competition, the Betterton Players depended on Congreve to keep them solvent, and every new Congreve play was eagerly awaited.  But in 1700,  they got Congreve's first major flop.  Ironically, "The Way of the World" is now considered Congreve's masterpiece.  But it was so badly received, Congreve withdrew from public theater.  He defended his play bitterly, saying he wrote it in accordance with artistic values, not with the tastes of the audience.

In 1701, Congreve wrote a masque, "The Judgment of Paris", and in 1704, collaborated with Vanbrugh* on a translation of Moliere's "Monsieur de Pourceaugnac".  He helped Vanbrugh set up the Haymarket Theater and raise subscriptions for it.  It opened in 1705 but failed, partly because the location was too far from the theater district, and partly because the acoustics were poor.  Congreve gave up his directorship of the theatre at the end of the year.

Congreve belonged to the Kit-Kat Club, a group whose members were chosen for their wit.  A fellow member, the Duke of Kingston, brought his young daughter Mary (later Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu*) to the weekly meetings, where she met and developed a great affection for Congreve, later declaring him the most witty of all wits.  After marrying, she moved to Constantinople, but maintained a regular correspondence with Congreve.  

Among other Kit-Kat members were Steele* and   Joseph Addison*.  Poet Pope* dedicated his translation of the "Iliad" to Congreve, who had become a close friend.

After the failure of "The Way of the World", Congreve declared: "Ease and quiet is what I hunt after".  He kept relationships with close friends, often visiting them in their country estates.  The country house he liked best, Stowe in Buckinghamshire, was owned by Sir Richard Temple, who put a monument in his park celebrating Congreve.  Congreve also visited Bracegirdle nearly every day. From 1703, Congreve became an intimate friend of Henrietta, wife of Lord Godolphin, the daughter of duke of Marlborough.

In 1705, Congreve accepted a post as commissioner for wines.  In 1714, King George made him Secretary to the Island of Jamaica, an extremely lucrative appointment.  In 1718, a royal patent gave him the position for life.  For the last 10 years of his life, Congreve led a quiet existence, spending time with Henrietta in her lodge in Windsor Park and visiting Bath with her.  In 1725, his great admirer the French writer (visited by> Voltaire*, visited him. 

Congreve is buried in Westminster Abbey.

ASSESSMENT:  Congreve's comedies elegantly reflected the manners of his time

EXTRA CONNECTIONS:  His doctor was Arbuthnot*

ONELINER:  William Congreve, satirical dramatist

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Hodges, John C., William Congreve The Man, Oxford University Press, London, 1941