SOUTHERN (Thomas), an eminent dramatic writer, was born at Dublin in 1660, and received his education in the university there. He came young to London to study law; but instead of that devoted himself to poetry and writing of plays. His Persian Prince, or Loyal Brother, was introduced in 1682, when the Tory interest was triumphant in England; and the character of the loyal brother being intended to compliment James duke of York, he rewarded the author when he came to the throne with a commission in the army. On the Revolution taking place, he retired to his studies, and wrote several plays, from which he is supposed to have derived a very handsome subsistence, being the first who raised the advantage of play-writing to a second and third night. The most finished of all his plays is Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave, which is built on a true story related in one of Mrs Behn's novels. Mr Southern died in 1746, in the 86th year of his age; the latter part of which he spent in a peaceful serenity, having, by his commission as a soldier, and the profits of his dramatic works, acquired a handsome fortune; and being an exact economist, he improved what fortune he gained to the best advantage. He enjoyed the longest life of all our poets; and died the richest of them, a very few excepted. His plays are printed in two volumes 12mo.