VANBRUGH (Sir John), a celebrated English
dramatic writer and architect, was descended of a fam-
ily in Cheshire which came from France, though by
his name he appears to have been originally of Dutch
extraction. He was born about the middle of the reign
of Charles II. and received a liberal education. His
first comedy, called the Relapse, or Virtue in Danger,
was acted in the year 1697 with great applause; which
gave him such encouragement, that he wrote 11 more
comedies. He was the friend of Mr Congreve, whose
genius was naturally turned for dramatic performances;
and these two gave new life to the English stage, and
restored its reputation, which had been some time sink-
ing: but their making vicious persons their most ami-
able and striking characters, and their bordering too
much on obscenity, could be of no service to the cause
of virtue; and therefore it was not without reason that
they were attacked by Mr Collier, in his piece on the
Immorality and Profaneness of the Stage. However,
either the reputation Sir John gained by his comedies,
or his skill in architecture, procured him very consid-
erable advantages. He was appointed Clarenceux king
at arms, which he afterwards disposed of. In 1716
he was appointed surveyor of the works at Greenwich
hospital; he was likewise made comptroller-general of
his Majesty's works, and surveyor of all the gardens
and waters. He was an able architect; but his per-
Vol. X.
formances in that way are esteemed heavy. Under his
direction were raised Blenheim-house in Oxfordshire,
Claremont in Surrey, and his own house at Whitehall.
He died of a quinsy in 1726.