CARTWRIGHT, WILLIAM English drama tist and divine, was born at Northway, Gloucestershire. He was educated at the free school of Cirencester, at Westminster school, and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his M.A. degree in 1635. He became, says Anthony a Wood, "the most florid and seraphical preacher in the university," and appears to have been no less admired as a reader in metaphysics. In 1642 he was made succentor of Salisbury cathedral, and in 1643 he was chosen junior proctor of the university. He died Nov. 29 of the same year.
Cartwright was a "son" of Ben Jonson and an especial favour ite with his contemporaries. His plays are, with the exception of The Ordinary (?1635), fantastic in plot, and stilted and arti ficial in treatment. They are : The Royal Slave (1636), produced by the students of Christ Church before the King and Queen, with music by Henry Lawes; The Lady Errant (acted, 1635-36); The Siege, or Love's Convert.
Comedies, Tragi-Comedies, with other Poems, by Mr. William Cart wright . . . (1651) included the plays mentioned above.