Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (1751 - 1816)
Dublin, Ireland

"I open with a clock striking, to beget an awful attention in the audience - it also marks the time, which is four o clock in the morning, and saves a description of the rising sun, and a great deal about gliding the eastern hemisphere."

Richard Brinsley Sheridan is remembered as the author of the wittiest comedies of all time for the English theatre. Ironically however, he never personally enjoyed the theatre life and wished to be a politician. This unbalance between his heart and his talent created a financial endeavor throughout most of his life. In 1762, Sheridan attended Harrow School and he later moved to Bath with his family where he began to write. In 1775, Sheridan produced The Rivals and through one of its characters Mrs. Malaprop came the English word malapropism. The Rivals, Saint Patrick's Day, and The Duenna were all successful. He along with two others bought a half interest in Drury Lane Theatre. His 'A Trip to Scarborough', based on an earlier play by Sir John Vanbrugh, was presented there in 1777, followed the same year by The School for Scandal, probably the best of Sheridan's comedies. In 1780, Sheridan became involved in politics as he entered as a Member of Parliament for Stafford. He served there for thirty-two years.

Works
The Rivals (1775)
The Duenna (1775)
A Trip to Scarborough (1777)
The School for Scandal (1777)
The Critic (1779)
Pizarro

Sources:

"Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 1994. Columbia University Press. 2000. <http://www.infoplease.com/search.php3?query=Richard+Brinsley+Sheridan&in=encyclopedia&go.x=13&go.y=10>

"Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan." The Guardian. 2001. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRsheridan.htm