VANBRUGH (Sir John), a celebrated English dramatic writer and architect, was descended of a family in Che-
Vandellia shire 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 eleven 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 for some time sinking: but their making vicious persons their most amiable 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 considerable advantages. He was appointed Clarencieux 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 performances 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.