CHURCHILL, CHARLES (1731-1764).--Satirist, _s._ of a clergyman, was _ed._ at Westminster School, and while still a schoolboy made a clandestine marriage. He entered the Church, and on the death of his _f._ in 1758 succeeded him in the curacy and lectureship of St. John's, Westminster. In 1761 he _pub._ the _Rosciad_, in which he severely satirised the players and managers of the day. It at once brought him both fame and money; but he fell into dissipated habits, separated from his wife, and outraged the proprieties of his profession to such an extent that he was compelled to resign his preferments. He also incurred the enmity of those whom he had attacked, which led to the publication of two other satirical pieces, _The Apology_ and _Night_. He also attacked Dr. Johnson and his circle in _The Ghost_, and the Scotch in _The Prophecy of Famine_. He attached himself to John Wilkes, on a visit to whom, at Boulogne, he _d._ of fever. CHURCHYARD, THOMAS (1520?-1604).--Poet and miscellaneous writer, began life as a page to the Earl of Surrey, and subsequently passed through many vicissitudes as a soldier in Scotland, Ireland, France, and the Low Countries. He was latterly a hanger-on at Court, and had a pension of eighteenpence a day from Queen Elizabeth, which was not, however, regularly paid. He wrote innumerable pamphlets and broadsides, and some poems, of which the best are _Shore's Wife_ (1563), _The Worthiness of Wales_ (1587) _repub._ by the Spenser Society (1871), and _Churchyard's Chips_ (1575), an autobiographical piece. CIBBER, COLLEY (1671-1757).--Actor and dramatist, _b._ in London, _s._ of a Danish sculptor, and _ed._ at Grantham School. Soon after his return to London he took to the stage. Beginning with tragedy, in which he failed, he turned to comedy, and became popular in eccentric _rôles_. In 1696 he brought out his first play, _Love's Last Shift_, and produced in all about 30 plays, some of which were very successful. In 1730 he was made Poet Laureate, and wrote some forgotten odes of no merit, also an entertaining autobiography. Pope made him the hero of the _Dunciad_. Among other plays are _The Nonjuror_ (1717), _Woman's Wit_, _She Would and She Would Not_, _The Provoked Husband_ (1728) (with Vanbrugh).