William Congreve

William Congreve grew up in Ireland, where he attended Kilkenny College. There he met Jonathan Swift, a fellow satirist who would become his lifelong friend. He also attended Trinity College in Dublin. Later, Congreve moved to London to study law but switched to playwriting instead. He wrote five plays (4 comedies and 1 tragedy) between 1693-1700, some of which became the most famous plays of the Restoration period. His career as a playwright was short-lived and he entered retirement early. He never married but was involved with several famous actresses, many of whom starred in his plays. He died from wounds he received from a carriage accident and was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.