William, eldest son of Sir Robert Killigrew, knight, was born in 1605. He was gentleman-usher of the privy-chamber to King Charles I.; and on the Restoration of Charles II., when the latter married the Princess Catharine of Portugal, he was created vice-chamberlain; in which station he continued 22 years, and died in 1693. He was the author of four plays, which, though now thrown aside, were much applauded by the poets of that time, particularly by Waller.

Thomas, brother of the former, was born in 1611; and was much distinguished in his time for wit. He was page of honour to King Charles I., and groom of the bedchamber to Charles II., with whom he suffered many years exile; during which he applied his leisure hours to the study of poetry, and to the composition of several plays. After the Restoration he continued in high favour with the king, and had frequently access to him when he was denied to the first peers in the realm; and being a man of great wit and liveliness of parts, and having from his long intimacy with that monarch, and being continually about his person during his troubles, acquired a freedom and familiarity with him, which even the pomp of majesty afterwards could not check in him; he sometimes, by way of jest, Killigrew, which King Charles was ever fond of, if genuine, even though himself was the object of the satire, would adventure bold truths which scarcely any one besides would have dared even to hint at. One story in particular is related of him, which if true is a strong proof of the great lengths he would sometimes proceed in his freedoms of this kind, which is as follows:

When the king's unbounded passion for women had given his mistress such an ascendancy over him, that, like the effeminate Persian monarch, he was much fitter to have handled a distaff than to wield a sceptre, and for the conversation of his concubines utterly neglected the most important affairs of state, Mr Killigrew went to pay his majesty a visit in his private apartments, habited like a pilgrim who was bent on a long journey. The king, surprized at the oddity of his appearance, immediately asked him what was the meaning of it, and whither he was going? "To hell," bluntly replied the wag. "Prithee (said the king), what can your errand be to that place?" To fetch back Oliver Cromwell (rejoined he), that he may take some care of the affairs of England, for his successor takes none at all.—One more story is related of him, which is not barren of humour. King Charles's fondness for pleasure, to which he almost always made himself give way, used frequently to delay affairs of consequence, from his majesty's disappointing the council of his presence when met for the dispatch of business, which neglect gave great disgust and offence to many of those who were treated with this seeming disrespect. On one of these occasions the duke of Lauderdale, who was naturally impetuous and turbulent, quitted the council chamber in a violent passion; and meeting Mr Killigrew presently after, expressed himself on the occasion in very disrespectful terms of his majesty. Killigrew begged his grace to moderate his passion, and offered to lay him a wager of 100l. that he himself would prevail on his majesty to come to council in half an hour. The duke, surprized at the boldness of the assertion, and warmed by his resentment against the king, accepted the wager; on which Killigrew immediately went to the king, and without ceremony told him what had happened; adding these words, "I know that your majesty hates Lauderdale, though the necessity of your affairs compels you to carry an outward appearance of civility: now, if you choose to get rid of a man who is thus disagreeable to you, you need only go this once to council; for I know his covetous disposition so perfectly, that I am well persuaded, rather than pay this 100l. he would hang himself out of the way, and never plague you more." The king was so pleased with the archness of this observation, that he immediately replied, "Well then, Killigrew, I positively will go;" and kept his word accordingly.—Killigrew died in 1682, and was buried in Westminster abbey.

Killigrew, Anne, "a Grace for beauty, and a Male for wit," as Mr Wood says, was the daughter of Dr Henry Killigrew, brother of the two foregoing, and was born a little before the Reformation. She gave early indications of genius, and became eminent in the arts both of poetry and painting. She drew the duke of York and his duchess to whom she was maid of honour, as well as several other portraits and history pieces; and crowned all her other accomplishments with unblemished virtue and exemplary piety. Mr Dryden seems quite lavish in her praise, though Killigrew Wood assures us he has said no more of her than she was equal if not superior to. This amiable young woman died of the smallpox in 1683; and the year after her poems were published in a thin quarto volume.