Farquhar, George (c. 1677-1707)

Irish dramatist. His most notable plays are The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux Stratagem (1707). Although typical of the Restoration tradition of comedy of manners, the good-humoured realism of his drama transcends the artificiality and cynicism of the genre.

Farquhar was born in Londonderry, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He made his debut on the stage as Othello around 1695. After accidentally stabbing a fellow-actor, he retired from the stage, moved to London, and turned to playwriting. His first drama, Love and a Bottle (1699), was well received at Drury Lane in London. The following year The Constant Couple was produced, and proved an even greater success. He wrote many other dramas, of which The Beaux' Strategem is generally considered the finest.