The Oxford Companion to English Literature | Addison, Joseph
Addison, Joseph
(
1672
–
1719
), the son of a dean of Lichfield, educated at Charterhouse with
Steele
and at The Queen's College, Oxford, and Magdalen, of which he became a fellow. He was a distinguished classical scholar and attracted the attention of
Dryden
by his Latin poems. He travelled on the Continent from
1699
to
1703
, and his Dialogues upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals (published posthumously) were probably written about this time. In
1705
he published The Campaign, a poem in heroic couplets in celebration of the victory of
Blenheim
. He was appointed under-secretary of state in
1706
, and was MP from
1708
till his death. In
1709
he went to Ireland as chief secretary to Lord Wharton, the lord-lieutenant. He formed a close friendship with
Swift
,
Steele
, and other writers and was a prominent member of the
Kit-Kat Club
.
Addison
lost office on the fall of the...
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