KILLIGREW, WILLIAM, was the eldest son of Sir Robert Killigrew, and born at Hanworth, Middlesex, in the year 1605. At the age of seventeen, he became a gentleman commoner of St John's College, where he remained about three years; he then travelled into foreign parts, and, after his return, was made governor of Pendennis Castle and of Falmouth Haven in Cornwall. At a subsequent period, he attended Charles I. as gentleman-usher of the privy chamber; and, upon the breaking out of the civil war, he commanded one of the two troops of horse which were appointed to guard the royal person. He was in attendance upon the king when the court resided at Oxford; in 1642, he was created doctor of the civil law by the university of that place; and when the king's affairs were completely ruined, he suffered like the other cavaliers, and was obliged to compound with the republicans for his estate. But the Restoration made him some compensation for the losses he had sustained in the royal cause. He was appointed gentleman-usher of the privy chamber to Charles II.; and, upon the king's marriage,
1 The author of the Memoirs of Dundee, speaking of this battle, says, "Then the Highlanders fired, threw down their fusils, rushed in with sword, target, and pistol upon the enemy, who did not maintain their ground two minutes after the Highlanders were amongst them; and I dare be bold to say, there were never such strokes given in Europe as were given that day by the Highlanders." What follows seems to partake a little of the marvellous. "Many of General Mackay's officers and soldiers were cut down through the skull and neck to the very breast; others had skulls cut off above their ears like night-caps; some soldiers had both their bodies and cross-belts cut through at one blow; pikes and small swords were cut like willows; and whoever doubts of this may consult the witnesses of the tragedy." The whole, indeed, seems to have been, in more senses than one, a very cutting affair.
he was created vice-chamberlain, an office which he held for twenty-two years. Killigrew died in 1693, four years after the Revolution. He was the author of four plays, printed at Oxford, 1666, in folio, and which have been commended by some eminent judges of dramatic merit, particularly by Waller. Another play, called the Imperial Tragedy, 1690, in folio, is also ascribed to him; and a little poem of his, set to music by Henry Lawes, is likewise extant. Wood informs us that, in his declining age, after he had retired from court, he wrote The Artless Midnight Thoughts of a Gentleman at Court, 1684, in 8vo, the second edition of which he dedicated to Charles II.; and another work, entitled Midnight and Daily Thoughts, in prose and verse, 1694, in 8vo. (A.)