born 1643?, near Northallerton, Yorkshire, Eng.
died Dec. 14, 1713, London
English critic.
Though called to the bar in 1673, Rymer almost immediately turned to literary criticism . He is known for introducing into England the principles of French formalist Neoclassical criticism. Among his works are The Tragedies of the Last Age (1678) and A Short View of Tragedy (1693), both highly critical of modern drama and favouring classical tragedy. His views were very influential until the 19th century. Appointed historiographer royal in 1692, he compiled most of the Foedera , a collection of treaties entered into by England that is of considerable value to the medievalist.