, one of the first names in the English drama, was born at Trottin
, one of the first names in the English drama, was born at Trottin in Sussex, March 3, 1651—
2, the son of the rev. Humphrey Otway, rector of Woolbeding. From Winchester-school, where he was educated,
he was entered, in 1669, a commoner of Christ-church,
but left the university without a degree, whether for want
of money, or from impatience of academical restraint, or
mere eagerness to mingle with the world, is not known.
The anonymous writer of his life in one of the editions of
His works, reports that he removed from Oxford to St.
John’s-college, Cambridge, the probability of which rests
only on a copy of verses sent to him by Duke the poet,
who was his intimate friend. At Cambridge, however, he
could not have remained long, if ever he paid more than a
visit to it, for he appeared in London in 1672 in the character of the king in Mrs. Behn’s “Forced Marriage,
” and
found himself unable to gain any reputation on the stage.
If he ever went to Cambridge, it must have been after this
period, for Duke himself was not entered of Trinity-college
until 1675.