William Congreve

William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright, satirist, poet, and Whig politician. He spent most of his career between London and Dublin, and was noted for his highly polished style of writing, being regarded by critics as one of the most important dramatists of the early Georgian era. He wrote some of the most popular poems of the 17th century, and is credited with developing the satirical comedy of manners genre. His plays and poems, which formed a major part of Restoration literature, were favorably viewed for their use of satire and comedy. Congreve is remembered for his play The Way of the World (1700), which is considered by literary commentators to be one of the centerpieces of Restoration comedy literature.

Congreve also wrote several other notable plays, including The Old Bachelor (1693), The Double Dealer (1693), Love for Love (1695), and The Mourning Bride (1697), all of which helped establish him as a great writer in the genre of comedy of manners. He died in London in 1729, and was honored with burial at the Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.