Cumberland, Richard, 1732-1811

Richard Cumberland was an author, best known as a dramatist and for his memoirs. Born at Trinity College, his father was a clergyman and his mother was the daughter of scholar Richard Bentley, then master of Trinity. He was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College at Oxford, and devoted himself to a life of literature. While serving a number of government posts, he continued his studies, and wrote and translated numerous works. He wrote prose and poetry, but was most successful as a playwright, writing a large number of plays, several of which were successful. Cumberland's work is generally considered overly sentimental and melodramatic, but he helped popularize such innovations as the problem play, the musical drama, and melodrama.

From the description of Richard Cumberland letter to Dear Pinckney, 1773 June 3. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 106478866

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