Addison

Addison

English poet, essayist, playwright and politician, Joseph Addison was born on May 1, 1672 in Milston, Wiltshire. He first came to literary fame by writing a poem, "The Campaign" (1704), to celebrate the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at the Battle of Blenheim. Addison is best remembered for his essays many of which feature the comings and goings of a country gentleman, Sir Roger de Coverley. This brilliant character distinguishes the most popular essays of The Spectator, a daily publication founded by Addison and his friend Richard Steele in 1711. The paper achieved great popularity and exercised a great deal of influence over the reading public of the time. Addison also wrote a successful tragic play entitled Cato which was first produced in 1713. His political career began as Under-Secretary of State in 1705 and he held political offices as a Member of Parliament in England and Ireland until his death. Addison died on June 17, 1719 in London and has a memorial statue erected in his honour in the Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey.