John Donne

17^th century English poet, prose writer, and clergyman, considered the greatest of the metaphysical poets and one of the greatest writers of love poetry.

Profile:

• Full Name: John Donne
• Born: c. 1572
• Place of Birth: Bread Street, London, England
• Death: March 31, 1631
• Place of Death: London, England
• Cause of Death: Stomach Cancer?
• Buried at: St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, City of London, Greater London, England
• Epitaphs: “He lies here in the dust but beholds Him, whose name is Rising”
• Father: John Donne
• Mother: Elizabeth Heywood
• Siblings: 5
  • Brother: Henry Donne (d. 1593)
  • Sister: Mary Donne (d. 1581)
  • Sister: Katherine Donne (d. 1581)
• Marriage: 1601
• Spouse: Anne More (d. 1617)
• Number of Children: 12
  • Daughter: Constance Donne (b. 1603)
  • Son:  John Donne III (b. 1604, d. 1662)
  • Son: George Donne (b. 1605)
  • Son: Francis Donne (b. 1607 d. 1614)
  • Daughter: Lucy Donne (b. 1608)
  • Daughter: Bridget Donne (b.1609)
  • Daughter: Mary Donne (b. 1611, d. 1614)
  • Stillborn: 1612
  • Son: Nicholas Donne (b. 1613, d. 1614)
  • Daughter: Margaret Donne (b. 1615)
  • Daughter: Elizabeth Donne (b. 1616)
  • Stillborn: 1617
• Education: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Lincoln’s Inn
• Known for: for both his sensitive and realistic portrayals of romantic love and his remarkable expressions of religious devotion
• Criticised for: NA
• Influences: NA
• Influenced: Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Merton

Quote:

''But I do nothing upon myself, and yet am mine own executioner.''  John Donne

Major Themes:

• Love
• Women
• Sexuality
• Religion
• Death

Notable Works:

• The Anniversaries (1611-12)
  
• Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624)
  
• Songs and Sonnets (1633)

Did you know?

• Donne’s father, a prosperous London merchant was also named John.
• Donne was the third of six children of his parents.
• His father deceased when Donne was only four years old.
• During marriage his wife Anne More was only 16 years old.
• After his father’s demise Donne’s mother married a prominent physician.
• Donne’s wife Anne spent most of her married life either pregnant or nursing.
• Anne bore 12 offspring, including two stillbirths.
• Donne’s wife died after giving birth of the 12^th child.
• In 1593, John Donne’s brother, Henry, was convicted of Catholic sympathies and died of a fever in prison.
• Critics place Donne, along with the English poets George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, and Richard Crashaw, in the metaphysical school of poets.
• Donne’s greatness as a poet was not acclaimed until the 20^th century.
• T.S. Eliot and William Butler Yeats did much to establish him as a great metaphysical poet.
• After his wife’s death Donne quit writing love poems and concentrated more on religious subjects.
• Donne was educated at home by Roman Catholic tutors until he was twelve years old.
• In 1615 Donne was ordained a priest.
• Although it is much debated how Donne died, many believed that he suffered from stomach cancer.

References

“John Donne.” Bio. 2015. A&E Television Networks. 6 April 2015
“John Donne.” Encyclopedia.com. 2015. HighBeam™ Research, Inc. 6 April 2015
 “John Donne Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2015. Advameg, Inc. 6 April 2015
 “John Donne Facts.” YourDictionary. 2015. LoveToKnow, Corp. 6 April 2015