Thomas Shadwell

Thomas Shadwell (1642?-1692), English dramatist and poet, born in Norfolk, and educated at the University of Cambridge. He practiced law until the successful production of his comedy The Sullen Lovers (1668), after which he devoted himself entirely to writing. Shadwell produced mainly comedies in which he criticized the manners of the period. Best known are Epsom Wells (1672) and The Squire of Alsatia (1688). Late in his life, Shadwell openly acknowledged his literary feud with the English poet John Dryden. His satire The Medal of John Bayes (1682) contains his strongest attack against Dryden, who counteracted with Mac Flecknoe, or a Satire on the True Blue Protestant Poet, T.S. (1682). Shadwell succeeded Dryden as poet laureate in 1688.