George Farquhar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Farquhar
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|---|---|
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| Born | 1677 Derry, Ireland |
| Died | 29 April 1707 (aged 29–30) London, England |
| Occupation | Dramatist |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Spouse |
Margaret Pemell
(m. 1703) |
George Farquhar (born in 1677, died in 1707) was a famous Irish writer of plays. He is best known for his funny plays, called comedies, which were popular in England during a time called the Restoration period. Some of his most famous plays are The Constant Couple, The Recruiting Officer, and The Beaux' Stratagem.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Farquhar was born in Derry, Ireland, in 1677. He was one of seven children. His father, William Farquhar, was a clergyman who did not have much money.
Even when he was young, George showed a talent for writing. People said he wrote poetry and thought deeply, much more than other kids his age.
He went to Foyle College. Later, when he was 17, he started studying at Trinity College Dublin. He was helped by the Bishop of Dromore. George might have planned to become a clergyman like his father. However, he was not happy as a student. He left college after two years to become an actor. Some say he left because he preferred a more exciting life. Another story says he was asked to leave because of a joke he made.
Acting Career
After leaving college, Farquhar joined a group of actors in Dublin. He probably got this chance through his friend, the well-known actor Robert Wilks.
George Farquhar was not considered a great actor. People said his voice was a bit weak and his movements were stiff. But audiences still liked him. He decided to keep acting until something better came along. He played roles in plays by famous writers like William Shakespeare and John Dryden.
His acting career ended because of an accident on stage. In a play called The Indian Emperor, Farquhar was supposed to pretend to kill another actor. He forgot to switch his real sword for a fake one. He accidentally wounded the actor playing Vasquez. The actor recovered, but Farquhar decided to stop acting after this incident.
Writing Plays
After the accident, Farquhar moved to London. He might have already started writing his first play. His friend Wilks, who had moved to London to act at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, encouraged him to write.
First Plays
Farquhar's first comedy, Love and a Bottle, was performed in 1698. People liked it because of its lively conversations and exciting scenes. The play was about a young Irish gentleman named Roebuck who comes to London. It had some grown-up themes. For example, in the play, Roebuck mentions leaving Ireland because of trouble he caused with a woman.
Because his first play was well-received, Farquhar decided to focus on writing. Around this time, he also joined the army as an officer. For the next few years, he worked as both a soldier and a playwright.
He also helped a talented actress named Anne Oldfield start her career. He saw her reading a play at her aunt's tavern and was impressed. He introduced her to Sir John Vanbrugh, which led to her becoming a famous actress. She played many important female roles in Farquhar's later plays.
Success and Later Works
In 1700, Farquhar's play The Constant Couple was a huge hit at Drury Lane. His friend Wilks played a character named Sir Henry Wildair, and his performance helped make the play very popular. The next year, Farquhar wrote a follow-up play called Sir Harry Wildair. In 1702, he wrote two more comedies, The Inconstant and The Twin Rivals. Also in 1702, he published a collection of his writings called Love and Business, which included letters, poems, and an essay about comedy.
In 1703, George Farquhar married Margaret Pemell. She was a widow with three children and ten years older than him. He later found out that she did not have the large fortune he thought she did. Even though he was disappointed and faced money problems, he was always kind and caring towards her.
For the next three years, he spent a lot of time recruiting soldiers for the army because of the War of the Spanish Succession. During this time, he wrote very little, except for The Stage Coach, which he wrote with Peter Motteux. This play was based on a French play.
He used his experiences from recruiting soldiers to write his next comedy, The Recruiting Officer (1706). However, Farquhar had to sell his army job to pay off his debts. He was told by the Duke of Ormonde that he would get another job in the army, but this promise was not kept.
Final Play and Death
Early in 1707, Farquhar's friend Wilks visited him. Farquhar was very sick and worried. Wilks gave him some money and encouraged him to write another play. This play, The Beaux' Stratagem, was first performed on March 8, 1707. Farquhar wrote it while he was ill. He mentioned that his sickness prevented him from fixing some parts of the play. He also thanked Wilks for his great help in making the play a success.
George Farquhar died on April 29, 1707, less than two months after his last play opened. He was buried in the Church of St. Martin in the Fields in London.
Farquhar's Influence
George Farquhar's plays continued to be important after his death.
- The 1987 play, Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, is about Australian convicts in the 1700s trying to perform Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer.
- In the play She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, a character named Kate asks if she looks like Cherry from Farquhar's The Beaux' Stratagem. This shows how well-known Farquhar's characters were.
See also
In Spanish: George Farquhar para niños
- List of Northern Irish writers
- Timberlake Wertenbaker
