John Milton

Date of Birth: December 9, 1608

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: November 8, 1674

Biography

John Milton was a renowned English poet, polemicist, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England. He is best known for his epic poem “Paradise Lost,” which is considered one of the greatest works of English literature. Born on December 9, 1608, in London, Milton was the son of a composer and scrivener. He received an excellent education, attending St. Paul’s School and later Christ’s College, Cambridge. Milton’s early works include “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso,” which reflect his mastery of classical forms and his deep engagement with the political and religious issues of his time. He married Mary Powell in 1642, but their marriage was fraught with difficulties, and she left him shortly after, though they later reconciled. As a staunch Puritan, Milton was a vocal supporter of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell and served as the Secretary for Foreign Tongues. During this period, he wrote various pamphlets on divorce, freedom of the press, and church reform. His staunch republicanism put him at odds with many, especially after the monarchy was restored in 1660. Milton’s later years were marked by personal loss, including the deaths of his first wife, Mary, and their children. He eventually went blind in 1652, which significantly impacted his later works. Despite his blindness, Milton continued to write, dictating his epic poems “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained” to aides. He died on November 8, 1674, and was buried in the church of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate, London.

5 Interesting Facts about John Milton

1. John Milton went completely blind in 1652, yet he continued to produce significant literary works by dictating them to assistants.

2. “Paradise Lost” was first published in 1667 in ten books; a second edition followed in 1674, reorganized into twelve books.

3. Milton was fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, Italian, and Hebrew, which he used in his political and theological writings.

4. He wrote “Areopagitica,” a pamphlet advocating for the freedom of the press, which is still cited in modern discussions on free speech.

5. Milton’s influence extends beyond literature into political thought, impacting figures like Thomas Jefferson and shaping the ideology of freedom and liberty.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Milton

1. “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”

2. “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.”

3. “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.”

4. “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

5. “Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As an historical figure from the 17th century, John Milton did not accumulate wealth in the modern sense, and thus no specific net worth can be attributed. However, his intellectual legacy has been invaluable.

Children

John Milton had four children with his first wife, Mary Powell: 1. Anne Milton (born 1646) 2. Mary Milton (born 1648) 3. John Milton (born 1651, died in infancy) 4. Deborah Milton (born 1652)