ABSTRACT
Farquhar was born in Londonderry in 1677, the son of a clergyman. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1694 and left two years later. From a remark in his first play—’We dare not have wit there, for fear of being counted rakes’—it has been deduced that there is some truth in the rumour that he was expelled for profanity. But there is no official record of his expulsion, and it is perhaps more likely that Farquhar left of his own accord, attracted by the thought of a theatrical career. After some experience as an actor in Dublin, he came to London with Robert Wilks, who was later to shine in the part of Sir Harry Wildair.
