Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Sheridan was an Irish-born British playwright, poet, politician, popular orator and owner of the London Theatre Royal known as Drury Lane.
Sheridan was a popular man in London. He was a fixture of the English club scene, holding memberships at several London Pubs including Samuel Johnson's exclusive Literary Club, Brooks's Club and the fashionable Whig Fraternity. Sheridan was known for drinking heavily and gambling but he was also well liked, using conversation as a social art and political tool. He made many famous friends including Lord Byron (the poet), who said of Sheridan, "He was superb!...I have met him in all places and parties...and always found him very convivial and delightful." Byron even wrote a poem about Sheridan titled Monody on the Death of the Right Honorable R. B. Sheridan. Perhaps even more notably, Sheridan was also friends with the Prince of Wales, who took the throne in 1820 as George IV when his father died.
Sheridan's Plays
Sheridan's career as a playwright was short but very successful. Sheridan wrote five plays that we know of, some of them notably in the wee hours of the morning with the help of a bottle of port after spending his evenings pursuing his real passion: hanging out with friends. For example, Sheridan didn't get around to writing the final act of School for Scandal until five days before opening night. Sheridan wrote almost entirely comedies except for Pizzaro which was a historical tragedy set during the Spanish Conquest of Peru and dramatizing English fears of French invasion.
Sheridan's Politics
Sheridan always seemed to have a love for both theatre and politics, though he shifted his focus to politics as he reached his 30s. In 1780 Sheridan became a member of Parliament (an MP) for Stafford for which he served until 1806, and then for Westminster from 1806-07, and then for Ilchester from 1807-12. Sheridan was a member of the Whig party in favor of reform and Catholic emancipation and became increasingly involved in Irish politics, supporting Irish independence. He also spoke enthusiastically in support of freedom of the press.
As a prominent political figure, Sheridan became the unprecedented subject of more than 500 satirical drawings from the 1780’s onwards, published in London Newspapers and pamphlets.
Sheridan's Family
Richard Brinsley is not the only famous Sheridan. In fact, practically everyone around Richard garnered accolades.
Thomas Sheridan
Richard's father, Thomas Sheridan, was an Irish actor and teacher of elocution, which may be part of why Sheridan because such a good conversationalist in high society. Thomas Sheridan felt strongly that English should be standardized so that "Natives of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Yorkshire, and all the several counties of England" all pronounced works the same way.
Frances Sheridan
Richard's mother, Frances Sheridan, was a novelist and playwright who wrote her first novel at thirteen years old and was known for her plays The Discovery (1763) and The Dupe (1763).
Elizabeth Ann Linley
Richard's wife, Elizabeth Ann Linley, was a singer known for her great beauty. She sat for fourteen portraits now held in the National Portrait Gallery and made her debut as a singer at London’s Covent Garden when she was only 13 years old. She is also the subject of a few plays, one of which being Sheridan's The Rivals which retells the story of Elizabeth's betrothal to a much older man and her elopement with Sheridan.
