Person Dryden; John (1631 - 1700); poet, playwright, and critic Dryden John poet, playwright, and critic Driden 1631 - 1700 British Male Aldwinkle All Saints [Aldwincle], Northamptonshire, England, Europe 9 August 1631 16310809 Gerrard Street, London, England, Europe 1 May 1700 17000501 Burial: Chaucer's grave, Poet's Corner', Westminster Abbey, London, England, Europe (13 May 1700) Burial: St Anne's Church, Soho (2 May 1700)

Tichmarsh, Northamptonshire; Charlton, Wiltshire (1665-1666); Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, London (1673-1682); Gerrard Street, London (1700)

Playwright; Poet Education: Westminster School; Trinity College, Cambridge; MA (Lambeth 1668) Career: Clerk to his cousin, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Chamberlain to Cromwell; Wrote 'Astraea redux (Justice brought back)' for returning Charles II (1660); Staged first play 'The Wild Gallant' (1663); Wrote major works 'Dramatick Poesie' and 'Annus mirabilis' (1665-1667); Poet Laureate and Historiographer Royal (1670-1688); published 'Troilus and Cressida' (1679); translated parts of 'Ovid's Epistles' (1680) Parents: Erasmus Dryden and Mary Pickering Siblings: 14 overall Married: Lady Elizabeth Howard Children: Charles Dryden; John Dryden; Erasmus-Henry Dryden Additional relative: by marriage connected to John Creed (FRS 1663) His profound influence on literature during the Restoration period led to the period being called by fellow literary people the 'Age of Dryden'. He was on occasion criticised for being opportunistic and not following deeply-rooted loyalties, in particular after his conversion to Roman Catholocism, which coincided with the accession of Catholic James II. While Dryden and his work is generally seen as being reverent of the monarchy, his work 'An Essay upon Satire' (1679) seemingly vilifies multiple members of the court and possibly even led to a physical assault on Dryden on 18 December 1679. Generally, his writing is influenced by events such as the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis. and Dryden included satirical sections on politics and religion in his works. Committee and panels: Committee for collecting all the phenomena of nature hitherto observed (1664) Ejected due to non-payment of subscriptions 29 October 1666 Original Fellow 20/05/1663 Walter Charleton 29 October 1666 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; ODNB References: George Watson, 'Dryden and the Scientific Image' in NR 1963 vol 18 pp 25-35, plate C C Booth, 'Sir Samuel Garth, FRS: The Dispensary Poet' in NR 1985-86 vol 40 pp 125-145 Neil Chambers, 'Letters From the President: the Correspondence of Sir Joseph Banks' in NR 1999 vol 53 pp 27-57 Notes: The election date is Dryden's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously elected on 19 November 1662 and admitted into the Society on 26 November 1662. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 9 Aug 1631 - 1 May 1700 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 05/01/2022 as part of Name Authority Project update. NA8109 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/68937979 575b214f-4732-43cf-be31-060bedb244e5