Who was Joseph Addison? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In May

Died At Age: 47

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dowager Countess

father: Lancelot Addison

Poets Essayists

Died on: June 17, 1719

place of death: Holland House

More Facts

education: King Edward VI School, The Queen's College, University of Oxford, Charterhouse School

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Childhood & Early Life

Joseph Addison was born in Milston, Wiltshire, to Reverend Lancelot Addison, who was made the Dean of Lichfield after his birth. Soon the family moved into the cathedral close.

He attended the Charterhouse School, a boarding school in Godalming, Surrey, where he met his future business partner, Richard Steele. He later attended The Queen's College, Oxford, and was proficient in Latin verse.

In 1693, he graduated from Magdalen College and that year he addressed a poem to John Dryden, an English poet and literary critic. The following year, he published ‘Account of the Greatest English Poets’ and also translated Virgil's ‘Georgics’.

In 1699, he received a pension of �300, after Dryden, Lord Somers and Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, became interested in his work. On pension, he travelled Europe with view to diplomatic employment.

In 1702, he lost his pension upon the death of William III as his influential contacts had lost their job. He returned to England the following year.

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Career

After he returned to England in 1703, he was unemployed for over a year. Later, the government appointed him to write a commemorative poem and he consequently authored, ‘The Campaign’.

The popularity of the poem, ‘The Campaign’ immediately gained him an appointment as a Commissioner of Appeals in the government of the 1st Earl of Halifax, Charles Montagu. He later wrote a literary piece on his travels to Italy and the opera libretto ‘Rosamund’.

In 1705, he was appointed as the Under-Secretary of State. The same year he also went on a mission to Hanover with Charles Montagu 1st Earl of Halifax.

In 1707, his opera libretto ‘Rosamund’ failed to earn good reviews and had an unsuccessful premiere in London.

From 1708 to 1709, he served as the Member of Parliament for the rotten borough, a small electorate within the Unreformed House of Commons, in Lostwithiel.

In 1709, Irish writer and politician, Richard Steele came out with the British journal, 'Tatler'. He became a regular contributor for this literary and society journal.

He helped establish the ‘Kit-Cat Club’, which was an English literary club in London. The club had strong political connections and its first meeting was held at a tavern in Shire Lane.

He was later appointed as the secretary to the new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Wharton, and Keeper of the Records of Ireland. He also became the Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons.

From 1710, he represented Malmesbury, parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which was also his home country. He served in this position until his death.

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In 1711, along with Irish writer and politician, Richard Steele, he co-founded the daily publication, ‘The Spectator’. The first issue of the publication appeared on March, 1, 1711.

In 1712, he finished writing the play, ‘Cato, a Tragedy’. The play premiered the following year and became an immediate success. He later wrote the play, ‘The Drummer’, a comedy.

From 1717 to 1718, he was employed as the Secretary of State for the Southern Department. In 1718, he resigned from the position due to poor health. He also authored the ‘Dialogue on Medals’ and ‘Evidences of Christianity’, which is an incomplete work.

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Major Works

The play, ‘Cato, a Tragedy’ was his seminal work and enjoyed success all over England, the New World and Ireland. The play is widely regarded as a literary inspiration behind the American Revolution.

He co-founded the daily ‘The Spectator’, which at that time was a well received and popular publication. An estimated one tenth of the population read the paper making it the most read publication.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1716, he married Dowager Countess of Warwick.

He died at the age of 48 at the Holland House, London. He was laid to rest at the Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster in London.

In March 1796, a town in upstate New York, Middletown, NY, was renamed Addison, NY.

In 2005, after the death of Albin Schram, an Austrian banker and collector, many letters of historical figures were found. One of Addison’s letters was also found.

Trivia

This famous essayist and politician of the early 18th century, founded the magazine ‘The Spectator’, along with Richard Steele.

Joseph Addison Biography