Colley Cibber, a multifaceted individual, lived a life that spanned from 1671 to 1757. He was a renowned actor, theatrical impresario, playwright, and poet, who, despite his notable accomplishments, is now mostly remembered for his modifications to William Shakespeare's Richard III, which were later used in Laurence Olivier's 1955 film adaptation. Moreover, Cibber served as the inspiration for the main character in Alexander Pope's satirical poem, "The Dunciad".
During his time, Cibber was an extremely successful actor-manager, celebrated for his performances as fops. He leveraged his connections with the Whig government, led by Prime Minister Robert Walpole, to become the Poet Laureate of England in 1730, a decision that sparked controversy and criticism from the artistic community. Many, including Pope, Edward Young, and others, felt that Cibber was not a worthy candidate for the position, as he was more of a poetaster than a poet.
Pope, in particular, was relentless in his criticism of Cibber, labeling him "The King of the Dunces" and mocking his lack of aesthetic appeal in his plays and poetry. Cibber's reputation was further tarnished by an epigram of the time, which read: "In merry old England it once was a rule,/The King had his Poet, and also his Fool:/ But now we're so frugal, I'd have you to know it,/That Cibber can serve both for Fool and for Poet."
