Dramatist and poet; born in
Oxford, England, in 1605; son of an innkeeper, at whose house
Shakespeare often stopped while on his journeys between
Stratford and
London, and who noticed the boy. Young
Davenant left college without a degree.
Shoving much literary talent, he was encouraged in writing plays by persons of distinction, and on the death of
Ben Jonson in 1637 he was made poet-laureate.
He adhered to the royal cause during the civil war in
England, and escaped to
France, where
[
15]
he became a
Roman Catholic.
After the death of his
King he projected (1651) a colony of French people in
Virginia, the only American province that adhered to royalty, and, with a vessel filled with French men, women, and children, he sailed for
Virginia.
The ship was captured by a parliamentary cruiser, and the passengers were landed in
England, where the life of Sir William was spared, it is believed, by the intervention of
John Milton, the poet, who was
Cromwell's Latin secretary.
Sir William had a strong personal resemblance to
Shakespeare, and it was currently believed that he was a natural son of the great dramatist.
This idea Sir William encouraged.
He died in April, 1668.
