John Milton - Biography.

John Milton - Biography. English poet and prose writer Birth December 9, 1608 Death November 8, 1674 Place of London, England Birth Known for Composing expansive, masterful poems in a variety of forms and daring prose in defense of civil, domestic, and religious liberties and the Puritan cause Milestones 1625-1632 While at Christ's College, Cambridge University, Milton began writing poetry in Latin, Italian, and English. He wrote the companion poems 'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso' during this time. 1632-1638 Continued to write poetry and study the classics after graduating from Christ's College; published the masque Comus in 1637 and the elegy Lycidas in 1638 1638-1639 Traveled in Europe, spending most of his time in Italy 1642 Married Mary Powell, who soon left him but returned in 1645 1644 Published the pamphlet Areopagitica, which championed freedom of the press; advocated teaching of the classics in the pamphlet Of Education 1649 Published The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, a pamphlet defending the rights of the people against tyrants, and was appointed foreign secretary in Oliver Cromwell's government, a position he held until 1660 1652 Lost his eyesight; his wife died, and their son soon after her 1667 Published Paradise Lost, an epic poem of good and evil 1671 Published the epic poem Paradise Regained, his sequel to Paradise Lost, along with the poetic drama Samson Agonistes Did You Milton's unhappy marriage may have prompted him to write treatises supporting divorce, including The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce Know (1643). In 1660, Milton was jailed for a short time for having written in support of parliament after the restoration of King Charles II. After Milton lost his eyesight, his daughters read to him in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew- languages they didn't understand. Milton had expressed a desire to write an epic nearly 30 years before Paradise Lost was published. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.