Eustace Budgell (August 19, 1686 – May 4, 1737) was an English writer.

Born in St. Thomas near Exeter, Budgell was educated at Oxford, was a cousin of Addison, who took him to Ireland and got him appointed to a lucrative office, which, however, he was foolish enough to throw away by lampooning the Viceroy. He assisted Addison in the Spectator, of which he wrote 37 numbers signed X. In these he imitates Addison's style with some success. Budgell, who was vain and vindictive, fell on evil days, lost a fortune in the South Sea Bubble, was accused of forging a will, and committed suicide by throwing himself out of a boat at London Bridge.

Deaths by drowning | English writers | Writers who committed suicide | 1686 births | 1737 deaths