Vanbrugh

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

SIR JOHN, an English architect and dramatist; born about 1666; educated partly in England and partly in France. He entered the army, became well known in London as a man of fashion, and then turned his attention to play-writing. His first play, "The Relapse," was brought out at Drury Lane about 1697, and was followed by "The Provoked Wife," and "Esop." The first two of these had all the wit and most of the freedom of treatment which characterized that period, but "Esop" was therefore unsuccessful. How he obtained moral and dull, and his knowledge of architecture is not known, but at this time (1702) Vanbrugh designed Castle Howard, the seat of the Earl of Carlisle. Afterward he entered with to build a great theater at the W. end of Congreve into a speculation London, in which he was his own architect; but it did not prove a success. In 1706 he was commissioned by Queen Anne to present the garter to the Elector of Hanover, and the same year he was occupied with the erection of Blenheim Palace. This work got him into considerable pecuniary trouble, as Parliament, which voted it, voted nothing for its payment. He built many other mansions for the nobility; in 1714 he was knighted by George I.; in the following year appointed controller of the royal works, and in 1716 surveyor of Greenwich Hospital. Vanbrugh's plays are admirable in dramatic conception as well as in wit, and his architectural works received the approval of Sir Joshua Reynolds. He died in London, March 26, 1726.