1663 in literature

The year 1663 in literature involved some significant events.

Events

• John Milton marries Elizabeth Minshull.
• John Dryden and John Aubrey become Fellows of the Royal Society.
• Katherine Philips' translation of Pierre Corneille's Pompée is successfully produced at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.
• In February, the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres (the Academy of the Humanities) is founded in Paris.
• On April 8, the King's Company inaugurate their new theatre, the first Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, with a revival production of Fletcher's The Humorous Lieutenant. The play is a hit, and runs for 12 nights straight — very unusual in the repertory system of the time.

New books

New drama

• Anonymous - The Wandering Whores' Complaint for Want of Trading (published)
• Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery - The General
• Henry Cary - The Marriage Night
• William Davenant - The Playhouse to Be Let (performed)
• The Siege of Rhodes Part 2 (published)
• John Dryden - The Wild Gallant
• Andreas Gryphius - Absurda Comica, oder Herr Peter Squentz
• James Howard - The English Monsieur
• Sir Robert Howard - The Committee
• Thomas Porter - A Witty Combat, or the Female Victor
• Richard Rhodes - Flora's Vagaries
• Sir Robert Stapylton - The Stepmother
• - The Slighted Maid
• Sir Samuel Tuke - The Adventures of Five Hours (adapted from Antonio Coello's Los empeños de seis horas)

Poetry

• Abraham Cowley - Verses Upon Several Occasions

Births

• February 12 - Cotton Mather (died 1728)
• March 6 - Francis Atterbury, politician and writer (died 1732)
• March 22 - August Hermann Francke, German theologian (died 1727)
• May 20 - William Bradford, printer in the American colonies (died 1752)
• date unknown
• William King, poet (died 1712)
• George Stepney, poet (died 1707)
• probable - Mary de la Rivière Manley (died 1724)

Deaths

• December 5 - Severo Bonini, music writer (born 1582)