Richard Gwinnett facts for kids

Richard Gwinnett (1675-1717) was an English playwright. He wrote plays for the stage.

Who Was Richard Gwinnett?

Richard Gwinnett was born in 1675. His father was George Gwinnett, from a place called Shurdington in Gloucestershire, England. Richard went to school at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a famous college. His teacher there was Francis Gastrell. Richard studied at Oxford for about seven years.

Life in London

After his studies, Richard Gwinnett moved to London. He lived in an area called the Temple. Even though he lived there, he was not a lawyer. While in London, he met a poet named Elizabeth Thomas. She was also known by her nickname, 'Corinna'. This nickname was given to her by the famous writer John Dryden.

A Special Friendship and Letters

Richard and Elizabeth became engaged. However, their wedding was put off because Richard became very ill. He had a serious illness that made him very weak. Because of this, he went back to his father's home in Gloucestershire.

For the next sixteen years (from 1700 to 1716), Richard and Elizabeth wrote many letters to each other. Elizabeth signed her letters as 'Corinna'. Richard signed his letters as 'Pylades'. These letters were later put together and published in two books. The books were called 'Pylades and Corinna'. They told the story of their lives, their friendship, and their writings. The books included all the letters they sent to each other during their long engagement.

Later Life and Work

In 1716, Richard's father passed away. Richard then returned to London. He hoped to finally marry Elizabeth. But the wedding was delayed again because Elizabeth's mother became ill.

Sadly, in the spring of 1717, Richard Gwinnett's illness returned. He passed away on April 16, 1717.

Richard Gwinnett wrote a play called 'The Country Squire, or a Christmas Gambol'. This play was first published in the second book of 'Pylades and Corinna' in 1732. Another version of the play was printed in 1734. Pictures of Richard Gwinnett were made by artists named Van der Gucht and G. King. These pictures were included in the 'Pylades and Corinna' books.