Jonathan Swift

Date of Birth: November 30, 1667

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: October 19, 1745

Biography

Jonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet, and cleric who became Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. He is best known for his satirical works, including “Gulliver’s Travels,” “A Modest Proposal,” and “A Tale of a Tub.” Born in Dublin, Ireland, Swift was abandoned by his father before he was born and was raised by his uncle. He attended Trinity College, Dublin, and later became an ordained Anglican priest. Swift’s writing is characterized by its sharp wit and biting satire, which he used to criticize the political and social issues of his time.

5 Interesting Facts about Jonathan Swift

1. Jonathan Swift was a founding member of the Scriblerus Club, a group of notable literary figures that included Alexander Pope and John Gay.

2. “Gulliver’s Travels” was initially published anonymously in 1726, and it was an immediate success.

3. Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is one of the most famous satirical essays in the English language, suggesting that the poor sell their children as food to the rich.

4. Despite his success as a writer, Swift’s life was marked by bouts of severe illness and depression, and it’s believed he suffered from Ménière’s disease.

5. Swift left a significant portion of his estate to establish St Patrick’s Hospital for Imbeciles, which opened in 1757 and is now known as St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jonathan Swift

1. “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”

2. “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.”

3. “May you live all the days of your life.”

4. “Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.”

5. “Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As an 18th-century writer and clergyman, Jonathan Swift did not achieve modern measures of wealth. However, he was relatively well-off for his time, especially due to his position as Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

Children

Jonathan Swift had no known children. His relationships, including a close bond with Esther Johnson (Stella), have been the subject of much speculation, but there is no evidence that he had any offspring.