Restoration and Early 18th Century (1660-1730)
* William Congreve (1670-1729): Known for his witty comedies of manners, including "The Way of the World" (1700).
* John Vanbrugh (1664-1726): Wrote comedies like "The Relapse" (1696) and "The Provoked Wife" (1697), known for their bawdy humor.
* William Wycherley (1640-1716): Author of the Restoration classic "The Country Wife" (1675), a satirical comedy.
* George Farquhar (1678-1707): Known for his romantic comedies like "The Recruiting Officer" (1706) and "The Beaux' Stratagem" (1707).
* Colley Cibber (1671-1757): A prolific playwright and actor, known for his comedies like "Love's Last Shift" (1696) and his controversial satire "The Careless Husband" (1704).
Mid-18th Century (1730-1780)
* Henry Fielding (1707-1754): More known for his novels, but also wrote plays like "The Tragedy of Tragedies; or, The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great" (1730), a comic parody.
* Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816): Celebrated for his brilliant comedies "The School for Scandal" (1777) and "The Rivals" (1775).
* Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774): Wrote comedies like "She Stoops to Conquer" (1773) and "The Good-Natured Man" (1768).
* David Garrick (1717-1779): A renowned actor and playwright, who contributed to the revival of Shakespeare and also wrote original plays.
Late 18th Century (1780-1800)
* Richard Cumberland (1732-1811): Known for his sentimental comedies, including "The West Indian" (1771).
* Arthur Murphy (1727-1805): Wrote both comedies and tragedies, such as "The Grecian Daughter" (1772).
* George Colman the Younger (1762-1836): Known for his farces and comedies, including "The Heir-at-Law" (1797).
This is just a sampling of the prolific playwrights of the 1700s in Britain. They wrote a wide variety of plays, from witty comedies of manners to sentimental dramas and even satirical parodies. The era saw the rise of a distinctly British theatrical tradition, and these playwrights played a key role in shaping the future of British drama.