William Cartwright (1 September 1611 – 29 November 1643) was an English poet, dramatist and churchman.
Early life
Cartwright was born at Northway, Gloucestershire, the son of William Cartwright of Heckhampton, Gloucestershire.
He was educated at the free school of Cirencester and at Westminster School.
He matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford on 24 February 1632 aged 20, and was awarded BA on 5 June 1632.
He was awarded MA on 15 April 1635. Anthony Wood gives an account of his origin as son of a country gentleman turned innkeeper which is contradicted by statements made in David Lloyd's Memoirs.
Career
Cartwright became reader in metaphysics at Oxford University and was, according to Wood, the most florid and seraphical preacher in the university.
In 1642 he was made succentor of Salisbury Cathedral, and in 1643 he was chosen junior proctor of the university.
Though Cartwright has been listed among the 17th century dramatists known as the Sons of Ben, as they were to have been influenced by Ben Jonson, Cartwright's play The Ordinary has been described as a second-rate Jonsonian comedy, nothing more than a pale copy of an original. Some would perhaps argue that bad replication does not qualify Cartwright as a true Son of Ben.
Civil War
Cartwright was nominated one of the council of war at Oxford in 1642. He died of camp fever (epidemic typhus) at Oxford aged 32 and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral.