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Vanbrugh, Sir John
dramatist and architect; b. January 24, 1664?; d. March 26, 1726
Vanbrugh devoted the early part of his life to literature and distinguished himself as a dramatist. In 1702 he succeeded Talman as comptroller of the royal works. His first completed works was a theater (1703-1705) in London, afterward destroyed. In 1701 he began for the Earl of Carlisle the palace called Castle Howard in Yorkshire, England. As a reward for the distinguished services of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, the royal manor of Woodstock (England) was granted to him and to his heirs by act of Parliament of March 14, 1705, with half a million pounds to build the great palace called Blenheim, which is Vanbrugh's most important and characteristic work. In 1716 he succeeded Sir Christopher Wren as surveyor of Greenwich Hospital (London). Among the residences built by Vanbrugh are Eastbury in Dorsetshire (1716-1718), Seaton Delaval (1720), portions of Audley End (1721), Grimsthrope (1722-1724), etc.
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