Congreve, William

English dramatist and poet. His first success was the comedy The Old Bachelor (1693), followed by The Double Dealer (1694), Love for Love (1695), the tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697), and The Way of the World (1700). His plays, which satirize and criticize the social affectations (show of manners) of the time, are characterized by elegant wit and wordplay, and complex plots.

Congreve was born near Leeds, but educated in Ireland. He met Irish satirist Jonathon Swift at Trinity College, Dublin and began legal training but gave it up to pursue his literary ambitions. His initially published a novel, Incognita (1691), but the success of his play The Old Bachelor persuaded him to write for the theatre. In addition to Swift, he mixed with Irish writer Richard Steele and English poet Alexander Pope. Congreve had an illegitimate daughter with the Duchess of Malborough. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.