Author: Cumberland, Richard
Biography:
Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811: ODNB)
He was the son of a clergyman, Denison Cumberland, and Joanna (Bentley) Cumberland, and nephew of Dr. Richard Bentley of Trinity College. He attended Westminster School and graduated from Trinity, Cambridge (BA 1751, MA 1754). In 1759 he married Elizabeth Ridge (d 1801); in 1761 he published his first play. With the support of Lord Halifax, he secured a post on the Board of Trade in which he had ample spare time for writing. Though his plays were his most successful productions, he also wrote poetry, fiction, and essays: his periodical The Observer ran from 1786 to 1790. At least nine editions of Calvary appeared between 1802 and 1815, including three US editions. Cumberland died in London, leaving seven surviving children; he was buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. (ODNB 2 June 2018)