1663 in literature
Encyclopedia
The year 1663 in literature involved some significant events.
Events
- February - The Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettresAcadémie des Inscriptions et Belles-LettresThe Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
(the Academy of the Humanities) is founded in Paris. - April 8 - The King's CompanyKing's CompanyThe King's Company was one of two enterprises granted the rights to mount theatrical productions in London at the start of the English Restoration. It existed from 1660 to 1682.-History:...
inaugurate their new theatre, the first Theatre Royal, Drury LaneTheatre Royal, Drury LaneThe Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with a revival of Fletcher'sJohn Fletcher (playwright)John Fletcher was a Jacobean playwright. Following William Shakespeare as house playwright for the King's Men, he was among the most prolific and influential dramatists of his day; both during his lifetime and in the early Restoration, his fame rivalled Shakespeare's...
The Humorous LieutenantThe Humorous LieutenantThe Humorous Lieutenant, also known as The Noble Enemies or Demetrius and Enanthe, is a Jacobean era stage play, a tragicomedy written by John Fletcher...
. The play is a hit, and runs for twelve straight nights — very unusual in the repertory system of the time. - August - The Playhouse to Be LetThe Playhouse to Be LetThe Playhouse to be Let is a Restoration stage play, a dramatic anthology of short pieces by Sir William Davenant that was acted in August 1663 at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields, and first published in the 1673 collected edition of Davenant's works...
, an anthology of work by Sir William DavenantWilliam DavenantSir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
, is performed at Lincoln's Inn FieldsLincoln's Inn FieldsLincoln's Inn Fields is the largest public square in London, UK. It was laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder and contractor William Newton, "the first in a long series of entrepreneurs who took a hand in developing London", as Sir Nikolaus Pevsner observes...
in London. - John MiltonJohn MiltonJohn Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
marries Elizabeth Minshull. - John DrydenJohn DrydenJohn Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
and John AubreyJohn AubreyJohn Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
become Fellows of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. - Katherine PhilipsKatherine PhilipsKatherine Philips was an Anglo-Welsh poet.-Biography:Katherine Philips was the first Englishwoman to enjoy widespread public acclaim as a poet during her lifetime. Born in London, she was daughter of John Fowler, a Presbyterian, and a merchant of Bucklersbury, London. Philips is said to have read...
' translation of Pierre CorneillePierre CorneillePierre Corneille was a French tragedian who was one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine...
's Pompée is successfully produced at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. - In England, Roger L'EstrangeRoger L'EstrangeSir Roger L'Estrange was an English pamphleteer and author, and staunch defender of royalist claims. L'Estrange was involved in political controversy throughout his life...
is appointed Surveyor of the Imprimery and Printing Presses and licenser of the press.
New drama
- Anonymous - The Wandering Whores' Complaint for Want of Trading (published)
- Miguel de BarriosMiguel de BarriosMiguel Barrios was a Spanish poet and historian from a converso family. He was born in Montilla, Spain and died in Amsterdam. Miguel was the son of a converso, Simon de Barrios — who also called himself Jacob Levi Caniso — and Sarah Valle. His grandfather was Abraham Levi Caniso...
- El Espanjol de Oran - Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle, 1st Earl of OrreryRoger Boyle redirects here. For others of this name, see Roger Boyle Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery was a British soldier, statesman and dramatist. He was the third surviving son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork and Richard's second wife, Catherine Fenton. He was created Baron of Broghill on...
- The General - Henry Cary - The Marriage Night
- Abraham CowleyAbraham CowleyAbraham Cowley was an English poet born in the City of London late in 1618. He was one of the leading English poets of the 17th century, with 14 printings of his Works published between 1668 and 1721.-Early life and career:...
- The Cutter of Coleman Street - William DavenantWilliam DavenantSir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
- The Playhouse to Be LetThe Playhouse to Be LetThe Playhouse to be Let is a Restoration stage play, a dramatic anthology of short pieces by Sir William Davenant that was acted in August 1663 at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields, and first published in the 1673 collected edition of Davenant's works...
(performed)- The Siege of RhodesThe Siege of RhodesThe Siege of Rhodes is an opera written to a text by the impresario William Davenant. The score is by five composers, the vocal music by Henry Lawes, Matthew Locke, and Captain Henry Cooke, and instrumental music by Charles Coleman and George Hudson...
Part 2 (published)
- The Siege of Rhodes
- John DrydenJohn DrydenJohn Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
- The Wild GallantThe Wild GallantThe Wild Gallant is a Restoration comedy written by John Dryden. It was Dryden's earliest play, and written in prose, not verse; it was premiered on the stage by the King's Company at their Vere Street theatre, formerly Gibbon's Tennis Court, on February 5, 1663... - Andreas GryphiusAndreas GryphiusAndreas Gryphius was a German lyric poet and dramatist.Asteroid 496 Gryphia is named in his honour.-Life and career:...
- Absurda Comica, oder Herr Peter Squentz
- 'Papinianus
- James HowardJames HowardJames or Jim Howard may refer to:* James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk * James Howard , English dramatist* James Howard MP , British Liberal politician, manufacturer and agriculturalist...
- The English Monsieur - Sir Robert HowardRobert Howard (playwright)Sir Robert Howard was an English playwright and politician, born to Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire and his wife Elizabeth.-Life:...
- The Committee - Thomas PorterThomas PorterThomas Porter is an American physician and cardiologist. He is the Theodore F. Hubbard Distinguished Chair of Cardiology and professor of Medicine at the University of Nebraska . The Section Chief is the highest ranking cardiologist but Dr...
- A Witty Combat, or the Female Victor - Richard RhodesRichard RhodesRichard Lee Rhodes is an American journalist, historian, and author of both fiction and non-fiction , including the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Making of the Atomic Bomb , and most recently, The Twilight of the Bombs...
- Flora's Vagaries - Sir Robert StapyltonRobert StapyltonSir Robert Stapylton or Stapleton was an English courtier, dramatic poet and translator.-Life:He was the third son of Richard Stapleton of Carlton by Snaith, Yorkshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Pierrepoint of Holme Pierrepoint. He was educated in the Benedictine convent of St. Gregory...
- The Stepmother- - The Slighted Maid
- Sir Samuel TukeSamuel Tuke (playwright)Sir Samuel Tuke , first baronet was an English officer in the Royalist army during the English Civil War and a notable playwright...
- The Adventures of Five Hours (adapted from Antonio CoelloAntonio CoelloAntonio Coello was a Spanish dramatist and poet. He entered the household of the duke de Albuquerque, and after some years of service in the army received the order of Santiago in 1648...
's Los empeños de seis horas)
Poetry
- Abraham CowleyAbraham CowleyAbraham Cowley was an English poet born in the City of London late in 1618. He was one of the leading English poets of the 17th century, with 14 printings of his Works published between 1668 and 1721.-Early life and career:...
- Verses Upon Several Occasions - Sir William DavenantWilliam DavenantSir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
- Poem, to the King’s most sacred Majesty
Births
- February 12 - Cotton MatherCotton MatherCotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
, New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer (died 1728) - March 6 - Francis AtterburyFrancis AtterburyFrancis Atterbury was an English man of letters, politician and bishop.-Early life:He was born at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, where his father was rector. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he became a tutor...
, politician and writer (died 1732) - March 22 - August Hermann FranckeAugust Hermann FranckeAugust Hermann Francke was a German Lutheran churchman.-Biography:Born at the German city Lübeck, Francke was educated at the gymnasium in Gotha before he studied at the universities of Erfurt and Kiel - where he came under the influence of the pietist Christian Kortholt - and finally Leipzig...
, German theologian (died 1727) - May 20 - William BradfordWilliam Bradford (1663-1752)William Bradford was an early English printer in North America. He is best known as "the pioneer printer of the Middle colonies" and the head of a family that included leading publishers for 140 years...
, printer in the American colonies (died 1752) - date unknown
- William KingWilliam King (poet)-Life:Born in London, the son of Ezekiel King, he was related to the family of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. From Westminster School, where he was a scholar under Richard Busby, at the age of eighteen he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford in 1681. There he is said to have dedicated himself...
, poet (died 1712) - George StepneyGeorge StepneyGeorge Stepney was an English poet and diplomat.Stepney was the son of George Stepney, groom of the chamber to Charles II, and was born at Westminster...
, poet (died 1707)
- William King
- probable - Mary de la Rivière Manley, novelist, playwright and political pamphleteer (died 1724)
Deaths
- April 17 - David QuestiersDavid QuestiersDavid Questiers was a Dutch poet. He was the brother of the noted poet Catharina Questiers.-Reference:* in the Digital library for Dutch literature...
, poet (born 1623) - October 31 - Théophile RaynaudThéophile RaynaudThéophile Raynaud was a French Jesuit theologian and writer.Raynaud was born at Sospello near Nice. He entered the Society of Jesus on 21 November 1602, then taught grammar and humanities at Avignon, and philosophy and theology at Lyon and for a time at Rome...
, theologian (born 1583) - December 5 - Severo BoniniSevero BoniniSevero Bonini was an Italian composer, organist and writer on music.He was born in Florence and became a Benedictine monk. He studied singing with Giulio Caccini. He served as organist in Forlì from 1613 and held a number of other posts before returning to Florence in 1640 where he was maestro di...
, music writer (born 1582) - date unknown
- Claude de Bourdeille, comte de MontrésorClaude de Bourdeille, comte de MontrésorClaude de Bourdeille, comte de Montrésor was a French aristocrat and Count of Montrésor, who played a role in the intrigues of the first half of the 17th century, and was also a memoir-writer....
, memoirist (born c.1606) - Elizabeth EgertonElizabeth EgertonElizabeth Egerton , countess of Bridgewater , was an English writer. She was encouraged in her literary interests from a young age by her father, William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, himself an author and patron of the arts surrounded by a literary coterie which included Ben Jonson, Thomas...
, countess of Bridgwater, essayist (born 1626)
- Claude de Bourdeille, comte de Montrésor