William Davenant

Sir William Davenant (February 28, 1606 - April 7, 1668), also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x1070, 238 KB)William Davenant, operator of one of the first licensed theatre companies after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x1070, 238 KB)William Davenant, operator of one of the first licensed theatre companies after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 27 - The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins ending in their execution on January 31 May 17 - Supporters of Vasili Shusky invade the Kremlin and kill Premier Dmitri December 26 - Shakespeares King Lear performed in court Storm buries a village of St Ismails near... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... // Events January - The Triple Alliance of 1668 is formed. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... Poets are authors of poems, or of other forms of poetry such as dramatic verse. ... A playwright is someone who writes for the theatre. ...

Biography

Sir William Davenant was born in late February, 1606 in Oxford, England, the son of Jane Shepherd Davenant and John Davenant, proprietor of the Crown Tavern (or Crown Inn) and mayor of Oxford. He was the godson of William Shakespeare, who had stayed frequently at the Crown during his travels between London and Stratford-upon-Avon. It was even rumored that he was the Bard's biological son as well. However, it seems that this rumor stemmed from a comment attributed to Davenant by Samuel Butler: "It seemed to him [Davenant] that he writ with the very same spirit that Shakespeare [did], and seemed content enough to be called his son." Events January 27 - The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins ending in their execution on January 31 May 17 - Supporters of Vasili Shusky invade the Kremlin and kill Premier Dmitri December 26 - Shakespeares King Lear performed in court Storm buries a village of St Ismails near... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 ( 2001 census). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon is a town in Warwickshire, England. ... Samuel Butler Samuel Butler (December 4, 1612 - June 18, 1680) was born in Worcestershire: he is remembered now primarily for a long satirical burlesque poem on Puritanism entitled Hudibras. ...

He attended Lincoln College, Oxford for a while in about 1620, but left before gaining any degree. College name Lincoln College Named after Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln Established 1427 Sister College Downing College Rector Prof. ... Events September 6 - English emigrants on the Mayflower depart from Plymouth, England for the future New England and arrive at the end of the year. ...

Following the death of Ben Jonson in 1637, Davenant was named Poet Laureate of England in 1638. He was a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War. In 1641, he was declared guilty of high treason, only to be knighted two years later by the king following the battle of Gloucester. He was then appointed Emissary to France in 1645 and treasurer of the colony of Virginia in 1649 by Charles II. The following year, he was made lieutenant governor of Maryland, but was captured at sea, imprisoned, and sentenced to death. He spent all of 1651 in the Tower of London, where he was imprisoned at the time Gondibert was written. Having been released in 1652, he was only pardoned in 1654. In order to avoid the strict laws of censorship in force in all public places at the time, he turned a room of his home Rutland House into a private theatre where his works, and that of others considered seditious, could be performed. A performance of his The Siege of Rhodes at Rutland House in 1656 is considered to be the first performance of an English opera, and also included England's first known professional actress, Mrs. Coleman [1]. Benjamin Jonson (June 11, 1572 – August 6, 1637) was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. ... Events February 3 - Tulipmania collapses in Netherlands by government order February 15 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor December 17 - Shimabara Rebellion erupts in Japan Pierre de Fermat makes a marginal claim to have proof of what would become known as Fermats last theorem. ... A Poet Laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... Charles I (19 November 1600–30 January 1649) was King of Scotland, England and Ireland from 27 March 1625, until his execution. ... The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... // Events January 10 - Archbishop Laud executed on Tower Hill, London. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Official languages English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Tim Kaine (D-Governor Elect) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 7. ... // Events January 30 - King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. ... Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... State nickname: Old Line State; Free State Official languages None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R) Senators Paul Sarbanes (D) Barbara Mikulski (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 21 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165/km² (5th) Admission into... // Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... The Tower of London, seen from the river, with a view of the water gate called Traitors Gate. ... // Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ... William Davenant, owner of Rutland House. ... A view of Rhodes, designed by Inigo Jones pupil John Webb, to be painted on a backshutter for the first performance of Davenants opera The Siege of Rhodes in recitative music in May 1656, at Rutland House. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ...

Davenant once again found himself in legal trouble in 1659, when he was imprisoned for his part in Sir George Booth's uprising at Cheshire. He was released the same year though and fled to France. He had returned to England sometime before the initial production of his adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, written with John Dryden, who would be named the next Laureate in 1670. // Events May 25 - Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector of England following the restoration of the Long Parliament, beginning a second brief period of the republican government called the Commonwealth. ... This article is about the English county. ... The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island is a comedy adapted by John Dryden and William DAvenant from Shakespeares great comedy The Tempest. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Miranda and Ferdinand, Angelica Kauffmann, 1782. ... John Dryden John Dryden (August 19, 1631 – May 12, 1700) was an influential English poet, literary critic, and playwright. ... 1670 was a common year beginning on a Saturday in countries using the Julian calendar and a Wednesday in countries using the Gregorian calendar. ...

After suffering from syphilis for nearly four decades, he passed away in London on April 7, 1668, shortly after his final play, The Man's the Master, was first performed. He is buried in the Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey where the inscription on his tablet reads "O rare Sir William Davenant." It has been noted that the original inscription on Ben Jonson's tablet, which was already removed by the time Davenant died, was "Rare Ben," which was the name Shakespeare supposedly had for Jonson. Depression-era U.S. poster advocating early syphilis treatment Syphilis (historically called lues) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by a spirochaete bacterium, Treponema pallidum. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... // Events January - The Triple Alliance of 1668 is formed. ... The Abbeys western facade The Collegiate Church of St John, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ...

Nine of his works, though they were previously licensed or produced in London during his life like all of his plays, were finally published in print posthumously. Several of these were included in The Works of Sr William D'avenant Kt., by Henry Herringman in 1673, which was copied from Davenant's own originals. Events The English Test Act was passed. ...

Works

Epic poems and books of poetry

• Ieffereidos (1630)
• Madagascar, with other Poems (1638)
• London, King Charles his Augusta, or, City Royal, of the founders, the names, and oldest honours of that City (1648)
• A Discourse upon Gondibert, an heroick poem (or simply Gondibert) (1650), which was originally published unfinished, but was published again in 1651 in its final form and included Davenant's "Preface to his most honour’d friend Mr. Hobs" and "The Answer of Mr. Hobbes to Sr Will. D’Avenant’s Preface before Gondibert" by Thomas Hobbes, to whom the book was dedicated; the official second edition in 1653 also contained "Certain Verses, written by severall of the author’s friends"
• Wit and Drollery: Jovial Poems (1656)
• Poems on Several Occasions (1657)

Thomas Hobbes (April 5, 1588–December 4, 1679) was a noted English political philosopher, most famous for his book Leviathan (1651). ...

Panegyrics

• A Panegyric to his Excellency the Lord General Monck (1660), to George Monck
• Poem upon his sacred Majesties most happy return to his dominions (1660), on the Restoration of Charles II
• Poem, to the King’s most sacred Majesty (1663), to Charles II

A Panegyric is a formal public speech delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally high studied and undiscriminating eulogy. ... George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle by Sir Peter Lely, painted 1665–1666. ...

Original plays, masques and operas

Listed in chronological order by actual date of publication, not performance. Costume for a Knight, by Inigo Jones: the plumed helmet, the heroic torso in armour and other conventions were still employed for opera seria in the 18th century. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

• Albovine, King of the Lombards (1629)
• The Cruel Brother (1630), which may also have been the same play published as The Colonel in 1629
• The Just Italian (1630)
• The Temple of Love (1635)
• The Witts (1636)
• The Platonic Lovers (1636)
• The Triumphs of the Prince D'Amour (1636)
• Britannia Triumphans (1638), with Inigo Jones
• Luminalia, or The Festival of Light (1638), with Indigo Jones
• Salmacida Spolia (1640)
• The Unfortunate Lovers (1643)
• Love and Honour (1649), which was also previously performed as The Courage of Love; and The Nonpareilles, or The Matchless Maids
• The Siege of Rhodes, Part I (1656)
• The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru (1658)
• The History of Sir Francis Drake (1659)
• The Siege of Rhodes, Part II (1663)
• The Man's the Master (1669)
• News from Plymouth (1673)
• The Fair Favourite (1673)
• The Distresses (1673), which was originally performed as The Spanish Lovers
• The Play-House to Be Let (1673)

Inigo Jones, by Sir Anthony van Dyck Inigo Jones (July 15, 1573–June 21, 1652) is regarded as the first significant English architect. ... Salmacida Spolia is a masque written by Sir William Davenant in 1639, and was presented at White Hall for the entertainment of Their Royal Majesties. ... A view of Rhodes, designed by Inigo Jones pupil John Webb, to be painted on a backshutter for the first performance of Davenants opera The Siege of Rhodes in recitative music in May 1656, at Rutland House. ...

Revisions, adaptations and other productions for the stage

• Greene's Tu Quoque (1667), which was based upon the 1614 print of Jo. Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque Or, the Cittie Gallant, which had been made famous by the actor Thomas Greene's 1611 performance
• The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island, (1667, published 1670), an adaptation with John Dryden of William Shakespeare's The Tempest
• The Rivals (1668), which was a revision of John Fletcher's The Two Noble Kinsmen
• The First Day's Entertainment at Rutland House (1673), which was written by Davenant in 1657 and finally published in The Works
• The Law Against Lovers (1673), an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and Measure for measure all in one
• Macbeth (1674), an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play

The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island is a comedy adapted by John Dryden and William DAvenant from Shakespeares great comedy The Tempest. ... John Dryden John Dryden (August 19, 1631 – May 12, 1700) was an influential English poet, literary critic, and playwright. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Miranda and Ferdinand, Angelica Kauffmann, 1782. ... This page is about the play by Sheridan. ... John Fletcher (playwright) (1579-1625) John Fletcher (Methodist) (1729-1785) ... The Two Noble Kinsmen is a play written in 1613 by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare in collaboration. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. ... Measure for Measure is a play written by William Shakespeare in 1604 or 1605. ... Scene from Macbeth, depicting the witches conjuring of an apparition in Act IV, Scene I. Painting by William Rimmer This article is on the play Macbeth by Shakespeare. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

External links

• "Shakespeare and Mrs. Davenant"
• A biography of William Davenant
• A more lengthy biography

Links to Davenant's works online

• Four poems at the Poetry Archive
• Five poems from Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th Century at Bartleby.com
• Three poems from The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900 at Bartleby.com
• The complete text of Davenant and Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest