K1LLIGRE\V, THOMAS, a younger eon of Sir Robert Killigrew, was born at llanworth in Middlesex in 1611. He travelled in his youth, was present at an exorcism of the nuns of Loudon, was appointed a page of honour to Charles L, and attended Charles II. during his exile, marrying one of the queeu'e maids of honour. llis coarse and licentious wit qualified him peculiarly for securing the favour of his master, who iu 1651, iu spite of the remonstrances of his wiser counsellors, sent him as his envoy to Venice, where he used his place for raising money for himself, and was expelled with disgrace. On the restoration Killigrew became groom of the bed-chamber, and enjoyed an intimacy and influence with the king which the first men iu the nation were unable to obtain. He has sometimes been said to have been officially appointed to be the royal jester; but for this assertion there is no ground, though he was in the habit of taking' such liberties as none but professional jesters would iu any other reign have been allowed to take. lie died at Whitehall in 1632. lle wrote
eleven plays, of which the first two were printed in 1611, and the whole collection in a folio volume in 1664. They do not by any means justify his reputation as a wit. A sufficient specimen of them is fur niebed by the comedy of ' The Parson's Wedding,' reprinted in Dodsley's 'Old Plays.' Killigrew's eldest brother, Silt Wassaat KtusonEw, a much inure respectable person, was the author of four or five plays, and of two volumes of moral reflections. He died in 1693.
The youngest brother, DR. DRNRY KILLIGREW, wrote a tragedy in his youth, took holy orders, and held several preferments. He was Master of the Savoy at his death, which took place after Sir William's. Dryden's flue elegy on Mrs. Anne Killigrew celebrates a daughter of Dr. Henry.