Miller was born in Bridport, Dorset on 11 August 1704, the son of a clergyman who possessed two considerable livings in the county. He therefore was persuaded to follow in his father"s profession as a minister, taking holy orders soon after he left Wadham.
He studied at Wadham College, Oxford, and while there wrote part of his famous comedy, The Humours of Oxford, which contained music by Richard Charke and was first performed on 9 January 1730, to great success.
Miller"s family was somewhat unsupportive of his theatrical endeavors. They had wanted him to pursue a career in business, but Miller showed a revulsion to such a pathological Miller became a lecturer at Trinity College, Conduit Street and a preacher at Roehampton Chapel.
The livings for these positions however did not provide for the lifestyle that Miller was accustomed to, so he continued to write for the stage to supplement his income.
This decision was met by some hostility by his colleagues in the church and his career as a clergyman suffered to some extent. Regardless, he went on to write eight more plays, many of which were premièred at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and contained incidental music by Thomas Arne.
Miller died in Chelsea on 27 April 1744 a few days after his adaptation of Voltaire"s tragedy Mahomet opened in London.
