Staging a Stereotype: Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) and the Drunken Irishman

This article examines representations of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s (1751–1816) drinking habits in order to offer a new reading of his Irishness. Drawing on a range of sources, including satirical prints, biographical accounts, letters, and newspaper excerpts, it argues that Sheridan’s drinking, and its particular association with his celebrated wit, was considered, or at least portrayed, as distinctly Irish despite the persistent ambivalence surrounding his national identity elsewhere. Whilst Sheridan’s political and theatrical life has been much historicized, his reputation as a drunkard has come under less scrutiny. By situating accounts of his drinking habits within their medical and cultural contexts, this essay deepens discussions not only of Sheridan’s national identity and health history, but also of the broader political narratives surrounding eighteenth- and nineteenth-century stereotypes of the drunken Irishman. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .