James Monroe
president of the United States from 1817 to 1825
Nathaniel Lee
17th-century English dramatist
Nathaniel Leewas an English dramatist.
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About the Nathaniel Lee
Nathaniel Leewas an English dramatist. He was the son of Dr Richard Lee, a Presbyterian clergyman who was rector of Hatfield and held many preferments under the Commonwealth; Dr Lee was chaplain to George Monck, afterwards Duke of Albemarle, but after the Restoration he conformed to the Church of England, and withdrew his approval for Charles I’s execution.
Lee was educated at Westminster Schoolis an adaptation of Madame de La Fayette’s 1678 novel of the same name. The Massacre of Paris was written about this time but not published until 1690.
Lucius Junius Brutusgave offence at court. The play was suppressed after its third representation for some lines on Tarquin’s character that were taken to be a reflection on King Charles II. He therefore joined Dryden in The Duke of Guisefollowed.
He had lived in the dissipated society of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, and his associates, and imitated their excesses. As he grew more disreputable, his patrons neglected him, and by 1684 his mind was allegedly completely unhinged. He spent five years in the notorious Bedlam Hospital. He lamented his situation with the following missive: “They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me”. He recovered and was released.
Lee died in a drunken fit in 1692. He was buried on 6 May in St. Clement Danes, Strand.
Lee’s Dramatic Works were published in 1734. In spite of their extravagance, they contain many passages of great beauty. Copies of Lee’s books remain sought after in bibliographic circles.