John Crowne (6 April 1641 – 1712) was a
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
dramatist
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays.
Etymology
The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
.
His father "
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
"
William Crowne
William Crowne (1617–1682) had a varied career as an officer of arms, a member of parliament, a colonel during the English civil war, and a joint proprietor of the English colony of Nova Scotia. He was also the father of the playwright John Cr ...
, accompanied the
earl of Arundel
Earl of Arundel is a title of nobility in England, and one of the oldest extant in the English peerage. It is currently held by the Duke of Norfolk, and is used (along with the Earl of Surrey) by his heir apparent as a courtesy title. The e ...
on a diplomatic mission to
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
in 1637, and wrote an account of his journey. He emigrated to Nova Scotia where he received a grant of land from
Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...
, but the
French took possession of his property, and the home government did nothing to uphold his rights.
Biography
He was born in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
on 6 April 1641,
[FamilySearch.org - Search](_blank)
/ref> and emigrated to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
in 1657 with his father, a joint proprietor of the colony, aboard the ship ''Satisfaction'', and studied at Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
.Reference indicates he was born in Nova Scotia
/ref> While studying at Harvard, Crowne lived with Puritan divine John Norton. Crowne left without graduating, however, and returned to England with his father in 1660.
When the son came to England his poverty compelled him to act as gentleman usher to an independent lady of quality, and his enemies asserted that his father had been an Independent minister. He began his literary career with a romance, ''Pandion and Amphigenia, or the History of the coy Lady of Thessalia'' (1665). In 1671 he produced a romantic play, '' Juliana, or the Princess of Poland'', which has, in spite of its title, no pretensions to rank as a historical drama.
The earl of Rochester
Earl of Rochester is a title that was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1652 in favour of the Royalist soldier Henry Wilmot, 2nd Viscount Wilmot. He had already been created Baron Wilmot, of Adderbury in the Co ...
procured for him, apparently with the sole object of annoying Dryden
''
John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate.
He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the peri ...
by infringing on his rights as poet-laureate, a commission to supply a masque for performance at court. ''Calisto'' gained him the favour of Charles II, but Rochester proved a fickle patron, and his favour was completely alienated by the success of Crowne's heroic play in two parts, ''The Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian'' (1677). This piece contained a thinly disguised satire on the Puritan
The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Catholic Church, Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become m ...
party in the description of the Pharisees
The Pharisees (; he, פְּרוּשִׁים, Pərūšīm) were a Jewish social movement and a school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Pharisaic beliefs bec ...
, and about 1683 he produced a distinctly political play, '' City Politiques'', satirizing the Whig party and containing characters which were readily recognized as portraits of Titus Oates
Titus Oates (15 September 1649 – 12/13 July 1705) was an English priest who fabricated the " Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.
Early life
Titus Oates was born at Oakham in Rutland. His father Samuel (1610 ...
and others. This made him many enemies, and he petitioned the king for a small place that would release him from the necessity of writing for the stage.
The king exacted one more comedy, which should, he suggested, he based on the ''No puede ser guardar una mujer'' of Moreto
Moreto is a red Portuguese wine grape variety that is planted primarily in the Alentejo. As a varietal, the grape makes neutral wines. J. Robinson ''Jancis Robinson's Wine Course'' Third Edition pg 144 Abbeville Press 2003
Synonyms
Moreto is ...
. This had already been unsuccessfully adapted, as Crowne discovered later, by Sir Thomas St Serfe, but in Crowne's hands it developed into ''Sir Courtly Nice
''Sir Courtly Nice: Or, It Cannot Be'' is a 1685 comedy play by the English writer John Crowne. Rehearsals by the United Company were underway when the death of Charles II of England, Charles II in February led to the closure of all theatres as a ...
'' (1685), a comedy which kept its place as a stock piece for nearly a century. Unfortunately Charles II died before the play was completed, and Crowne was disappointed of his reward. In 1698, Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950), is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the only sister of K ...
attended a performance of his play ''Caligula'' during which Mary Lindsey
Mary Lindsey known as Mrs Lindsey ( fl. 1697 – 1713) was a British singer. She specialised in comedic roles particularly opposite Richard Leveridge. She appeared in the first all-sung operas in the UK in English.
Life
Her birth and education ...
sang a special composition by Richard Leveridge
Richard Leveridge (or Leueridge) (19 July 1670 – 22 March 1758) was an English bass singer of the London stage and a composer of baroque music, including many popular songs.
Life
Richard Leveridge was born in the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fiel ...
. Crowne continued to write plays, and it is stated that he was still living in 1703. According to an article in the Gentleman's Magazine John was still alive in the first decade of the 18th century when the writer recalls drinking with him. Letters to the royal household indicates he relied on the charity of Queen Mary II
Mary II (30 April 166228 December 1694) was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, co-reigning with her husband, William III & II, from 1689 until her death in 1694.
Mary was the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, and his first wife ...
and Queen Anne
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie.
Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...
who remembered performing one of his plays for Charles II when they were young princesses.
Crowne was a fertile writer of plays with an historical setting, in which heroic love was, in the fashion of the French romances, made the leading motive. The prosaic level of his style saved him as a rule from the rant to be found in so many contemporary heroic plays, but these pieces are of no particular interest. He was much more successful in comedy of the kind that depicts "humours".
Little is known of Crowne's later life although records show an Elias Crowne (birthplace listed as outside the county) marrying in Norfolk in the late 1680s, the son of a John and Sarah Crowne. There was also a John Crown born in 1667 in London.
Crowne died around 1712 and was buried at St Giles in the Fields, London.
Works
* ''Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable (french: l'Affable; 30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13.Paul Murray Kendall, ''Louis XI: The Universal Spider'' (Ne ...
'' (1671) was dedicated to Rochester. In ''Timon'', generally supposed to have been written by the earl, a line from this piece--"whilst sporting waves smil'd on the rising sun "—was held up to ridicule
* ''Juliana
Juliana (variants Julianna, Giuliana, Iuliana, Yuliana, etc) is a feminine given name which is the feminine version of the Roman name Julianus.
Juliana or Giuliana was the name of a number of early saints, notably Saint Julian the Hospitaller, wh ...
'' (1671), a tragedy
* ''The Country Wit
''The Country Wit'' is a 1676 comedy play by the English writer John Crowne, part of the tradition of Restoration Comedy. It was first staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the Duke's Company. The cast included Samuel Sandford as Sir ...
'' (acted 1675, pr. 1693), a comedy derived in part from Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...
's ''Le Sicilien, ou l'Amour peintre'', is remembered for the leading character, Sir Mannerly Shallow
*'' The Ambitious Statesman, or The Loyal Favourite'' (1679), one of the most extravagant of his heroic efforts, deals with the history of Bernard d'Armagnac, Constable of France, after the battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt ( ; french: Azincourt ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected English victory against the numerica ...
*'' Thyestes, A Tragedy'' (1681), spares none of the horrors of the Senecan tragedy, although an incongruous love story is interpolated
*''The Misery of Civil War
''The Misery of Civil War'' is a 1680 tragedy by the English writer John Crowne. It was originally staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The play was staged at the height of the Popish Plot, something Crowne addres ...
'' (1681), adapted from William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''Henry VI, Part 2
''Henry VI, Part 2'' (often written as ''2 Henry VI'') is a Shakespearean history, history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas ''Henry VI, Part 1'' ...
'' and ''Henry VI, Part 3
''Henry VI, Part 3'' (often written as ''3 Henry VI'') is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas '' 1 Henry VI'' deals with the loss of Eng ...
''
*'' City Politiques'' (1683), a comedy
*''Sir Courtly Nice
''Sir Courtly Nice: Or, It Cannot Be'' is a 1685 comedy play by the English writer John Crowne. Rehearsals by the United Company were underway when the death of Charles II of England, Charles II in February led to the closure of all theatres as a ...
'' (1685), a comedy
*''Darius, King of Persia
''Darius, King of Persia'' is a 1688 tragedy by the English writer John Crowne. It portrays the reign of Darius III of Persian Empire, focusing on his defeat by Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, ...
'' (1688), a tragedy
*''Regulus
Regulus is the brightest object in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It has the Bayer designation designated α Leonis, which is Latinized to Alpha Leonis, and abbreviated Alpha Leo or α Leo. Re ...
'' (acted 1692, pr. 1694)
*'' The English Frier; or The Town Sparks'' (acted 1689, pr. 1690), perhaps suggested by Molière's ''Tartuffe'', ridicules the court Catholics, and in Father Finical caricatures Father Edward Petre
Sir Edward Petre, 3rd Baronet, (1631 – 15 May 1699) was an English Jesuit who became a close adviser to King James II and was appointed a privy councillor.
Early life
Petre was the son of Sir Francis Petre, 1st Baronet, of Cranham (Essex), ...
.
*'' The Married Beau'' (1694), is based on the ''Curioso Impertinente'' in ''Don Quixote
is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...
''.
*''Caligula'' (1698)[
He also produced a version of ]Racine
Jean-Baptiste Racine ( , ) (; 22 December 163921 April 1699) was a French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, along with Molière and Corneille as well as an important literary figure in the Western traditio ...
's ''Andromaque'', and an unsuccessful comedy, ''Justice Busy''.
See ''The Dramatic Works of John Crowne'' (4 vols., 1873), edited by James Maidment
James Maidment (1793 in London – 1879 in Edinburgh) was a British antiquary and collector. He passed through Edinburgh University to the Scottish bar, and was chief authority on genealogical cases.
Maidment's hobby was the collection of l ...
and W. H. Logan for the ''Dramatists of the Restoration''.
References
* John Crowne: His Life and Dramatic Works by Arthur Franklin White
Archibald MacMechan. John Crowne: A Biographical Note. ''Modern Language Notes'', Vol. 6, No. 5 (May, 1891), pp. 139-143
*
*
*http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=ancestorsearchresults.asp
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crowne, John
1640s births
1712 deaths
Harvard College alumni
British poets
British male poets
British male dramatists and playwrights
Writers from London
English emigrants