(Sir Richard), a physician, and voluminous writer of theological, poetical, and physical works. Having declared himself early in favour of the Revolution, King William, in 1697, chose him one of his physicians in ordinary, and conferred the honour of knighthood on him. On Queen Anne's accession, Sir Richard was also appointed one of her physicians, and continued so for some time. Dryden and Pope treated the poetical performances of Blackmore with great contempt; and in a note to the mention made of him in the Dunciad, we are informed that his " indefatigable muse produced no less than six epic poems: Prince and King Arthur, 20 books; Eli-sa, 10; Alfred, 12; The Redeemer, 5; beside Job, in folio; the whole book of Psalms; The Creation, seven books; Nature of Man, three books; and many more." But notwithstanding Blackmore was much ridiculed by the wits, he is not without merit; and Addison has, in the Spectator, bestowed some liberal commendations on his poem on the Creation. It must be mentioned too in honour of Sir Richard, that he was a chaste writer, and a warm advocate for virtue, at a time when an almost universal degeneracy prevailed. He had been very free in his censures on the libertine writers of his age; and it was owing to some liberty he had taken of this kind, that he drew upon him the resentment of Mr Dryden. He had likewise given offence to Mr Pope; for having been informed by Mr Curl that he was the author of a travelie on the first Psalm, he took occasion to reprehend him for it in his Essay on Polite Learning. Besides what are above mentioned, Sir Richard wrote some theological tracts, and several treatises on the plague, small-pox, consumptions, the spleen, gout, dropsy, &c. and many other poetical pieces. He died October 9. 1729.