(George), an excellent dramatic writer, born at London in 1693. He was a jeweller by profession, and followed his business for many years in that neighbourhood with the fairest reputation. He was at the same time strongly attached to the muse, yet seemed to have laid it down as a maxim, that the devotion paid to them ought always to tend to the promotion of virtue, morality, and religion. In pursuance of this aim, Lillo was happy in the choice of his subjects, and showed great power of affecting the heart, by working up the passions to such a height, as to render the distresses of common and domestic life equally interesting to the audiences as that of kings and heroes, and the ruin brought on private families by an indulgence of avarice, lust, &c., as the havoc made in states and empires by ambition, cruelty, or tyranny. His "George Barnwell," "Fatal Curiosity," and "Arden of Faverham," are all planned on common and well-known stories; yet they have perhaps more frequently drawn tears from an audience than the more pompous tragedies of Alexander the Great, All for Love, &c. In the prologue to "Elmeric," which was not acted till after the author's death, it is said, that when he wrote that play, he "was deprived by want," and afflicted by disease; but in the former particular there appears to be evidently a mistake, as he died possessed of an estate of L. 60 a-year, besides other effects to a considerable value. His death happened in 1739, in the 47th year of his age. His works have been lately collected, and published, with an account of his life, in 2 vols 12mo, by Mr T. Davis.