William Cartwright
William Cartwright was an English poet and playwright born in Gloucestershire in 1611. He received a comprehensive education, attending schools in Cirencester and Westminster before entering Oxford University, where he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Cartwright made his literary debut in 1630 with a Latin poetry collection, and he was known for his works that often celebrated royal events and figures. Among his notable contributions is the play "The Royal Slave," which was performed in 1636 and received significant acclaim, including a performance for Queen Henrietta Maria. Cartwright's body of work includes several other plays and poems, reflecting the influence of contemporary playwright Ben Jonson. In addition to his literary pursuits, Cartwright became a clergyman and held various academic roles at Oxford amidst the backdrop of the English Civil War. He passed away in 1643, and while his popularity waned in the years following his death, interest in his poetry surged in the twentieth century, marking a resurgence in appreciation for his contributions to English literature.
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William Cartwright
Dramatist
- Born: September 1, 1611
- Birthplace: Northway, Gloucestershire, England
- Died: November 29, 1643
- Place of death: England
Biography
William Cartwright was born at Northway, Gloucestershire, England, on either September 11 or December 23, 1611. His parents were William Cartwright, who apparently was an innkeeper, and Dorothy Coles Cartwright. Cartwright attended a free school in Cirencester as well as the Westminster School. He continued his education at Oxford University, entering in 1628, earning a B.A. in 1632, and taking an M.A. at Christ Church in 1635.
In 1630, Cartwright published his first collection of poems, Britanniae natalis, all written in Latin. Cartwright published a number of poems in both Latin and English, and collections of his verse were produced by Oxford University. These poems were nearly always in commemoration of births, birthdays, or other events important to members of the royal family. In 1635, he also wrote a poem prefacing Francis Kynaston’s translation of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde (c. 1382-1386).
As a part of Oxford’s celebration of a visit by King Charles I and his entourage, Cartwright wrote a play, The Royal Slave. in 1636 that was performed on August 30. Famed designerInigo Jones created the scenery, and the play also featured fantastic costumes and music. The play received acclamation and was performed a second time for the queen. Indeed, praise for the play was so high that it was printed in two editions. In addition to The Royal Slave, Cartwright wrote three additional plays, The Lady Errant, The Siege: Or, Love’s Court, and The Ordinary. These plays were not published until 1651, after Cartwright’s death. There is some indication that the premier playwright of the day, Ben Jonson, influenced Cartwright’s work.
In 1638, Cartwright took holy orders. In addition, he contributed a poem in honor of Jonson to a publication that included work by thirty poets. By 1642, Cartwright was the succentor of Salisbury Cathedral and also was appointed a reader in metaphysics at Oxford. He served as junior proctor of the university beginning in 1643. During the same period, England was torn apart by civil unrest caused by a battle between the king and Parliament. As a result of this conflict, Cartwright found himself briefly in prison at the hands of proparliamentary factions.
Cartwright wrote a poem for Queen Maria Henrietta in 1643 as well as an elegy for Sir Bevil Grenville. In the autumn of 1643, he became ill along with other members of the Oxford community. He died on November 29, 1643.
Although Cartwright was very well thought as a playwright in his own time, his popularity fell off sharply after the seventeenth century. On the other hand, as a member of the Sons of Ben (Jonson), his poetry came to be highly valued in the twentieth century and critical interest in his work increased throughout the century.