Loss of sight from cataracts in his eyes, and severe paroxysms of the gout, rendered the latter days of Congreve, it is said, cheerless and gloomy. He did not, however, survive long after the visitation of these afflicting maladies. After visiting Bath for relief, he returned to London and expired there on the 29th January, 1728-9, in the sixtieth year of his age. His corpse lay in state at the Jerusalem Coffee-house, whence it was taken with great solemnity into Henry the Seventh's Chapel at Westminster, and afterwards interred in the Abbey. The pall was supported by persons of the highest distinction, namely by the Duke of Bridgewater, the Earl of Godolphin, Lord Cobham, Lord Wilmington, the Honourable George Berkely, and Brigadier-General Churchill ; Colonel Congreve followed as chief mourner. Some time after a neat and elegant monument was erected to his memory by the Duchess of Marlborough, to whom he bequeathed a legacy of about £10,000.