William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright, satirist, poet and Whig politician. Considered by critics to be one of the preeminent dramatists of the Georgian era, he is credited with developing and popularizing the satirical comedy of manners genre during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and his works, which formed an important part of Restoration literature, were favorably viewed for their use of satire and comedy. Congreve is best remembered for his play, The Way of the World (1700), which is widely regarded by literary commentators to be one of the finest works in Restoration comedy literature.
Congreve also wrote several other notable plays, including The Old Bachelor (1693), The Double Dealer (1693), Love for Love (1695), and The Mourning Bride (1697), which helped establish him as a great writer in the genre of comedy of manners. He died in London in 1729, and was honored with burial at the Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.
