Note 452 — Chapter XXV · THE DRAMA.

Colley Cibber was born in London Nov. 6, 1671, and is known as much, or more, as a playwright, or poet as an actor. In his boyhood he tried for a scholarship at Winchester, but failed; afterwards he meditated going to the University, but the Revolution of 1688 broke out, and he was for a short time in the army as his father's substitute. He saw no service, and soon became an actor, i.e. in 1690, and did not quit the stage till 1730, in which year he was made Poet Laureate to George II. He died Dec. 12, 1757. Downes tells us he was 'A Gentleman of his time who has Arriv'd to an exceeding Perfection, in hitting justly the Humour of a starcht Beau or Fop; as the Lord Fopington; Sir Fopling and Sir Courtly, equalling in the last the late eminent Mr. Mountfort, not much Inferior in Tragedy, had Nature given him Lungs, Strenuous to his finisht Judgment.' Gildon,[452] however, falls foul of him; but then, the only good words he had were for Betterton and Barry.