What is Elkanah Settle?
{{Infobox person | name = Elkanah Settle | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1648 | birth_place = [[Dunstable]], [[Bedfordshire]], [[England]] | death_date = 1724 | death_place = [[London]], England | nationality = English | other_names = | known_for = Plays and poetry | occupation = }} '''Elkanah Settle''' (1648-1724) was an [[English people|English]] [[poet]] and [[playwright]]. He was born at Dunstable, [[Bedfordshire]], [[England]], the son of Josias Settle. In 1666, he went to Trinity College, [[Oxford]], but did not take a [[degree (school)|degree]]. His first tragedy was ''Cambyses, King of Persia'' (1667). It was the first English play to have its climax reached in a musical scene with an original score. It is believed to be the first play printed in England with [[illustration]]s.<ref>''Encyclopedia of British writers, 16th and 17th centuries''. (2005). Book Builders LLC. pp. 349-350.</ref> Settle was briefly involved in [[politics]] when the succession of [[Catholic]] [[James II of England|James II]] to the throne was being debated. He served briefly in James's army. He then abandoned politics. In 1691, he was named City Poet of London. His last days were spent as a poor brother in the Carthusian Order. He may have performed in street fairs as a [[dragon]] in a green leather suit. He died in 1724. ==Selected works== *''The Empress of Morocco'' (1673), a [[tragedy]] *''Ibrahim, the Illustrious Bassa'' (1676), a tragedy *''The Female Prelate: being the History of the Life and Death of [[Pope Joan]]'' (1680), a tragedy *''The New Athenian Comedy (1693), a [[comedy]] *''The Ambitious Slave: or A Generous Revenge'' (1694) *''The World in the Moon'' (1697), an [[opera]] *''The Virgin Prophetess, or The Fate of Troy'' (1701), an opera *''The Lady's Triumph'' (1718), an opera ==References== {{reflist}} ==Other websites== * [http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/bookbindings/ British Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305051020/http://www.bl.uk/c