born April? 1580, London, Eng.
died July 4, 1627, Newington Butts, Surrey
British playwright.
Middleton studied at Oxford University and had written three books of poetry by 1600. He learned to write plays by collaborating with John Webster and others on works for the producer Philip Henslowe . His tragedies Women Beware Women (с 1621) and The Changeling (1622, with William Rowley) are considered his masterpieces. His comedies, which picture a society dazzled by money, include Michaelmas Terme (с 1605), A Trick to Catch the Old-one (1608), A Mad World, My Masters (1608), A Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (с 1613), and A Game at Chess (1625).