Blackmore Sir Richard

Blackmore, Sir Richard, physician and writer, was born at Corsham, Wiltshire. After being educated at Westminster school and Oxford he became a schoolmaster. He then spent some time on the Continent, taking the degree of M.D. at Padua, and on his return to England being admitted fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1687. In 1697 (having pronounced strongly in favour of the Revolution) he was appointed one of the king's physicians and knighted by William. He also continued to be one of the court physicians under Queen Anne. Meanwhile, between 1695 and 1723, he had published seven epics, viz. Prince Arthur, King Arthur, Eliza, Creation, Redemption, Nature of Man, and Alfred, all of which are now regarded as insufferably dull. He also wrote some theological works and medical treatises. He died in 1729 at Boxted, Essex.