Famous Renaissance English Writers

Famous Renaissance English Writers

Famous Renaissance English Writers

1. Sir Thomas More (1478–1535)

Born: February 7, 1478, London, England
Died: July 6, 1535, Tower Hill, London, England
Cause of Death: Executed by beheading
First Publication: Utopia (1516)
Posthumous Publications: Religious writings like The Apology (1557)
Literary Focus: Political philosophy, humanism, and social reform.

Major Events
  • More was knighted in 1521 for his service to the Crown.
  • He served as Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII from 1529 to 1532.
  • In 1535, he was executed for refusing to recognize Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England.
  • More had a close relationship with Erasmus, one of the leading scholars of the Renaissance.
  • He was arrested in 1534 for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy.
  • More’s opposition to the Protestant Reformation led to his downfall.
  • His writings had a lasting influence on political thought and utopian literature.
Famous Works
  • Utopia (1516)
  • The History of King Richard III (published posthumously in 1543)
  • A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534)

 


 

2. Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–1542)

Born: 1503, Kent, England
Died: October 11, 1542, Sherborne, Dorset, England
Cause of Death: Fever, possibly after a riding accident
First Publication: His poems were published posthumously in Tottel’s Miscellany (1557).
Posthumous Publications: Tottel’s Miscellany (1557)
Literary Focus: Poetry, courtly love, and sonnets.

Major Events
  • Wyatt was imprisoned twice on treason charges in 1536 and 1541 but was later pardoned.
  • He was a diplomat under Henry VIII, travelling to Spain and Italy.
  • Wyatt introduced the sonnet form to English literature, heavily influenced by Petrarch.
  • He was rumoured to have had a romantic connection with Anne Boleyn.
  • Wyatt served as ambassador to Spain under Emperor Charles V.
  • He was a key figure in bringing the Renaissance poetic forms to England.
  • Wyatt’s son later led a rebellion against Queen Mary I.
Famous Works
  • Whoso List to Hunt (published posthumously in 1557)
  • They Flee From Me (published posthumously in 1557)
  • Farewell, Love (published posthumously in 1557)

 


 

3. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–1547)

Born: 1517, Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, England
Died: January 19, 1547, London, England
Cause of Death: Executed for treason
First Publication: His poems were published posthumously in Tottel’s Miscellany (1557).
Posthumous Publications: Tottel’s Miscellany (1557)
Literary Focus: Poetry, blank verse, and translations of classical works.

Major Events
  • Surrey introduced blank verse to English poetry, influencing later dramatists like Shakespeare.
  • He was imprisoned for suspected treason multiple times due to his connections to the royal family.
  • In 1547, he was executed for allegedly plotting against Henry VIII, though the charges were likely politically motivated.
  • Surrey’s family had close ties to the royal court.
  • He served in military campaigns in France and Scotland.
  • Surrey’s poetry greatly influenced the development of English sonnets.
  • He collaborated with Sir Thomas Wyatt to refine the English sonnet form.
Famous Works
  • Aeneid (translation, published posthumously in 1557)
  • The Soote Season (published posthumously in 1557)
  • Love, that Doth Reign and Live Within My Thought (published posthumously in 1557)

 


 

4. Edmund Spenser (1552–1599)

Born: 1552, London, England
Died: January 13, 1599, Westminster, London, England
Cause of Death: Likely due to malnutrition and illness after fleeing Ireland during the Tyrone Rebellion
First Publication: The Shepheardes Calender (1579)
Posthumous Publications: Two Cantos of Mutabilitie was added to later editions of The Faerie Queene (1609).
Literary Focus: Epic poetry, allegory, and Elizabethan politics.

Major Events
  • Spenser worked as an administrator in Ireland, where he witnessed the Tyrone Rebellion.
  • In 1590, he published the first part of The Faerie Queene, which was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I.
  • Spenser fled Ireland in 1598 when his estate was destroyed during the Irish rebellion.
  • He received a pension from Queen Elizabeth for his services to literature.
  • Spenser’s poem, *Amoretti*, was inspired by his love for Elizabeth Boyle.
  • He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he became friends with Gabriel Harvey.
  • Spenser’s influence on later English poets, especially Milton, is widely recognized.
Famous Works
  • The Faerie Queene (1590)
  • The Shepheardes Calender (1579)
  • Amoretti and Epithalamion (1595)

 


 

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

Born: November 30, 1554, Penshurst, Kent, England
Died: October 17, 1586, Arnhem, Netherlands
Cause of Death: Wound from battle
First Publication: Arcadia (1590, posthumous)
Posthumous Publications: An Apology for Poetry (1595)
Literary Focus: Pastoral romance, sonnets, and literary criticism.

Major Events
  • Sidney served as a diplomat for Queen Elizabeth I, travelling across Europe on various missions.
  • He was injured at the Battle of Zutphen and died from gangrene in 1586.
  • Sidney’s sonnet sequence, *Astrophel and Stella*, is one of the first works of the English sonnet tradition.
  • His work The Defence of Poesy is considered one of the most important works of literary criticism in English.
  • Sidney patronized the arts and influenced many writers of his time, including Edmund Spenser.
  • He became a national hero after he died in battle and was celebrated as a model of chivalry and honour.
  • Sidney’s literary works combined Renaissance humanism with a deep concern for moral and political issues.
Famous Works
  • Astrophel and Stella (1591)
  • Arcadia (1590)
  • The Defence of Poesy (1595)

5. Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

Born: February 26, 1564, Canterbury, Kent, England
Died: May 30, 1593, Deptford, London, England
Cause of Death: Killed in a tavern brawl, stabbed above the eye
First Publication: Tamburlaine the Great (c. 1587)
Posthumous Publications: Doctor Faustus
Literary Focus: Tragedy, blank verse, and controversial themes in religion and politics.

Major Events
  • Marlowe was arrested in 1593 on suspicion of atheism and espionage but died before his trial.
  • He was associated with the Elizabethan intelligence service, which has led to much speculation about his secret activities.
  • Marlowe pioneered the use of blank verse in drama, setting the stage for Shakespeare’s success.
  • Marlowe’s work was often accused of blasphemy and atheism, which contributed to his mysterious death.
  • He received his degree from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on a royal warrant despite controversy over his religious beliefs.
  • Marlowe worked as a playwright for the Lord Admiral’s Men at the Rose Theatre.
  • His early death remains one of the most debated mysteries of English literary history.
Famous Works
  • Doctor Faustus (published posthumously in 1604)
  • Tamburlaine the Great (c. 1587)
  • The Jew of Malta (c. 1589)

 


 

6. William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

Born: April 23, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Died: April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Cause of Death: Possibly from a fever
First Publication: Venus and Adonis (1593)
Posthumous Publications: The First Folio (1623), published by his friends, contained 36 of his plays.
Literary Focus: Tragedy, comedy, history plays, and poetic language.

Major Events
  • Shakespeare became a shareholder and actor with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which later became the King’s Men.
  • In 1599, he and his company opened the Globe Theatre, where many of his plays were performed.
  • In 1613, the Globe Theatre burned down during a performance of Henry VIII, though it was later rebuilt.
  • Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582, with whom he had three children.
  • His works have been translated into every major living language.
  • Shakespeare retired to Stratford-upon-Avon around 1613.
  • He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.
Famous Works
  • Hamlet (1600)
  • Romeo and Juliet (1597)
  • Macbeth (1606)

 


 

7. Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

Born: June 11, 1572, Westminster, London, England
Died: August 6, 1637, London, England
Cause of Death: Natural causes after prolonged ill health
First Publication: Every Man in His Humour (1598)
Posthumous Publications: Ben Jonson’s Works (1640)
Literary Focus: Satirical comedy, court masques, and neoclassical style.

Major Events
  • Jonson killed a fellow actor in a duel and was jailed but later pardoned.
  • He became one of the first English writers to receive a royal pension from King James I.
  • Jonson’s satirical plays earned him critical acclaim and a rivalry with Shakespeare.
  • Jonson’s 1616 folio of his works was the first English playwright’s works to be published in a collected edition.
  • He was a close friend and mentor to young poets such as John Donne and William Shakespeare.
  • Jonson’s satirical plays critiqued English society and the aristocracy.
  • He was buried in Westminster Abbey with the epitaph “O Rare Ben Jonson!”
Famous Works
  • Volpone (1606)
  • The Alchemist (1610)
  • Every Man in His Humour (1598)

 


 

8. John Donne (1572–1631)

Born: January 22, 1572, London, England
Died: March 31, 1631, London, England
Cause of Death: Stomach cancer
First Publication: Pseudo-Martyr (1610)
Posthumous Publications: Poems (1633), a collection of his poetry
Literary Focus: Metaphysical poetry, religious themes, and exploration of love and death.

Major Events
  • Donne converted from Catholicism to Anglicanism, a decision that deeply influenced his later writings.
  • He became Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1621, one of the highest positions in the Church of England.
  • Donne’s sermons and religious writings made him one of his time’s most respected religious figures.
  • He was imprisoned for secretly marrying Anne More, a noblewoman, without her father’s consent.
  • Donne’s early works included erotic poetry, while his later works focused on religious themes.
  • He coined many famous phrases, such as “For whom the bell tolls” and “No man is an island.”
  • His influence on metaphysical poetry was profound and long-lasting.
Famous Works
  • The Flea (published posthumously in 1633)
  • Death Be Not Proud (published posthumously in 1633)
  • A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning (published posthumously in 1633)

 


 

9. Francis Bacon (1561–1626)

Born: January 22, 1561, London, England
Died: April 9, 1626, Highgate, Middlesex, England
Cause of Death: Pneumonia after experimenting with freezing meat
First Publication: Essays (1597)
Posthumous Publications: The New Atlantis (1627)
Literary Focus: Philosophy, empirical research, and political theory.

Major Events
  • Bacon served as Lord Chancellor of England but was impeached for corruption in 1621.
  • He developed the scientific method, laying the groundwork for modern empirical research.
  • Bacon’s political downfall did not stop him from continuing his philosophical and scientific inquiries.
  • Bacon was a key figure in developing the empirical method of science.
  • He was a member of Parliament for nearly 40 years.
  • Bacon’s *Novum Organum* outlined his scientific methodology.
  • He was knighted in 1603 by James I.
Famous Works
  • Essays (1597, expanded in 1625)
  • The Advancement of Learning (1605)
  • Novum Organum (1620)

 


 

10. Robert Greene (1558–1592)

Born: July 11, 1558, Norwich, England
Died: September 3, 1592, London, England
Cause of Death: Illness, likely fever and poverty
First Publication: Mamillia (1583)
Posthumous Publications: Greene’s Groats-Worth of Wit (1592)
Literary Focus: Pastoral romance, drama, and pamphleteering.

Major Events
  • Greene was one of the first professional writers in England to live solely by his pen.
  • He wrote satirical attacks on Shakespeare and other contemporaries in his pamphlets.
  • Greene died in poverty, having squandered his earnings on a life of excess.
  • He was one of the most popular English writers of his day.
  • Greene was educated at Cambridge, where he developed his literary skills.
  • His pastoral work influenced Shakespeare’s *The Winter’s Tale*.
  • Greene also wrote pamphlets attacking London’s moral corruption.
Famous Works
  • Pandosto (1588)
  • Greene’s Groats-Worth of Wit (published posthumously in 1592)
  • Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (c. 1589)

 


 

11. George Chapman (1559–1634)

Born: June 1559, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
Died: May 12, 1634, London, England
Cause of Death: Natural causes in old age
First Publication: The Shadow of Night (1594)
Posthumous Publications: Complete edition of his Homer translations (1616)
Literary Focus: Translations of Homer, classical drama, and satire.

Major Events
  • Chapman became renowned for his translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, which are considered some of the finest English translations of classical works.
  • His friendship and collaboration with playwright Ben Jonson influenced much of his work.
  • Chapman was briefly imprisoned for debt during his later years but continued writing.
  • He worked with Shakespeare on several collaborative plays.
  • Chapman wrote philosophical poetry that engaged with Stoic ideals.
  • His translation of *The Iliad* is still admired for its artistry.
  • Chapman’s plays were known for their dense, intellectual dialogue.
Famous Works
  • The Iliad (translation, 1598)
  • The Odyssey (translation, 1616)
  • Bussy D’Ambois (1607)

 


 

12. John Lyly (1554–1606)

Born: 1554, Kent, England
Died: November 27, 1606, London, England
Cause of Death: Unknown
First Publication: Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578)
Posthumous Publications: N/A
Literary Focus: Prose, euphuism, and courtly plays.

Major Events
  • Lyly became famous for his prose style, euphuism, which was highly popular in court circles.
  • His plays were performed at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, establishing him as a prominent playwright.
  • Lyly was elected to Parliament in 1589 and 1593, balancing a political career with writing.
  • He was known for his witty and elaborate prose style, which was highly influential in the 1580s.
  • Lyly’s plays explored themes of love, politics, and mythology.
  • His literary style, “euphuism,” became fashionable at court.
  • Lyly’s influence can be seen in Shakespeare’s *Love’s Labour’s Lost*.
Famous Works
  • Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578)
  • Endymion (1591)
  • Campaspe (1584)

 


 

13. Thomas Nashe (1567–1601)

Born: November 1567, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England
Died: 1601, Yarmouth, England
Cause of Death: Unknown
First Publication: The Anatomy of Absurdity (1589)
Posthumous Publications: The Works of Thomas Nashe (1904)
Literary Focus: Satire, prose fiction, and pamphleteering.

Major Events
  • Nashe’s controversial play The Isle of Dogs led to his brief imprisonment.
  • He co-wrote Dido, Queen of Carthage with Christopher Marlowe.
  • Nashe struggled financially most of his life, often relying on patrons for support.
  • His satirical work criticized contemporary society, earning him both fame and enemies.
  • Nashe wrote the first English picaresque novel, *The Unfortunate Traveller*.
  • His satirical writings targeted the Puritans and literary rivals.
  • Nashe was known for his vigorous, witty prose style and his engagement in literary controversies of the time.
Famous Works
  • The Unfortunate Traveller (1594)
  • Summer’s Last Will and Testament (1592)
  • Pierce Penniless (1592)

 


 

14. Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

Born: 1563, Hartshill, Warwickshire, England
Died: December 23, 1631, London, England
Cause of Death: Natural causes
First Publication: The Harmony of the Church (1591)
Posthumous Publications: The Works of Michael Drayton (1748)
Literary Focus: Historical poetry, patriotic themes, and topographical poetry.

Major Events
  • Drayton became closely associated with the Elizabethan court, though he fell out of favour later in life.
  • In 1612, he published his magnum opus, Poly-Olbion, an epic poem describing the topography and history of England.
  • Drayton continued writing prolifically despite the decline in royal patronage, with his works celebrating English history and culture.
  • He advocated for English nationalism, which influenced much of his writing.
  • Drayton was a member of the Mermaid Club alongside Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and others.
  • His work *The Barons’ Wars* chronicled the 13th-century civil wars in England.
  • Edmund Spenser deeply influenced Drayton’s poetry.
Famous Works
  • Poly-Olbion (1612)
  • Idea’s Mirror (1594)
  • The Barons’ Wars (1603)

 


 

15. Aemilia Lanyer (1569–1645)

Born: January 1569, London, England
Died: 1645, London, England
Cause of Death: Unknown
First Publication: Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)
Posthumous Publications: N/A
Literary Focus: Feminist poetry, religious themes, and patronage.

Major Events
  • Lanyer was one of the first women in England to publish a volume of poetry, challenging societal norms.
  • She was a proto-feminist writer, using her poetry to defend women’s dignity and rights.
  • Lanyer’s work was largely ignored during her lifetime but has since been rediscovered as a pioneering feminist text.
  • She was a court musician before turning to writing poetry.
  • Lanyer dedicated her poetry to noblewomen and members of the court.
  • Her poems provide some of the earliest feminist arguments in English literature.
  • Lanyer was one of the few women writers of her era to publish a volume of original poetry.
Famous Works
  • Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611)
  • The Description of Cooke-ham (1611)
  • To the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty (1611)

 


 

16. Samuel Daniel (1562–1619)

Born: 1562, Somerset, England
Died: October 14, 1619, Beckington, England
Cause of Death: Natural causes
First Publication: The Worthy Tract of Paulus Jovius (1585)
Posthumous Publications: N/A
Literary Focus: Historical poetry, philosophy, and drama.

Major Events
  • Daniel was appointed Poet Laureate of England and tutor to Lady Anne Clifford.
  • His epic poem The Civil Wars became a celebrated historical account of the Wars of the Roses.
  • Daniel was known for his philosophical writings and influence on 17th-century poetry.
  • He was influenced by his friend and fellow poet, Edmund Spenser.
  • Daniel was widely respected in his time, holding several royal appointments.
  • His sonnets and philosophical writings explore themes of love and politics.
  • Daniel’s historical poetry influenced later writers, including Shakespeare and Milton.
Famous Works
  • Delia (1592)
  • The Civil Wars (1595–1609)
  • Musophilus (1599)

 


 

17. John Fletcher (1579–1625)

Born: December 1579, Rye, Sussex, England
Died: August 1625, London, England
Cause of Death: Plague
First Publication: The Faithful Shepherdess (1609)
Posthumous Publications: N/A
Literary Focus: Tragicomedy, collaborations with Shakespeare, and drama.

Major Events
  • Fletcher became one of the leading dramatists of his time, succeeding Shakespeare as the chief playwright for the King’s Men.
  • He collaborated with Shakespeare on plays like The Two Noble Kinsmen.
  • Fletcher was known for popularizing tragicomedy in the Jacobean era.
  • He co-wrote several plays with Francis Beaumont, forming a successful partnership.
  • Fletcher wrote extensively for the King’s Men, England’s leading theatre company.
  • He was buried in Southwark Cathedral, close to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
  • Fletcher’s influence on Jacobean drama is considered second only to Shakespeare.
Famous Works
  • The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1607)
  • The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613, with Shakespeare)
  • The Faithful Shepherdess (1609)

 


 

18. John Milton (1608–1674)

Born: December 9, 1608, London, England
Died: November 8, 1674, London, England
Cause of Death: Kidney failure
First Publication: Comus (1637)
Posthumous Publications: De Doctrina Christiana (1823)
Literary Focus: Epic poetry, religious themes, and political writings.

Major Events
  • Milton supported the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell and wrote pamphlets advocating for republicanism.
  • He became blind in 1652 but continued to dictate his later works, including Paradise Lost.
  • Milton’s political writings led to his brief imprisonment after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
  • He studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he earned the nickname “The Lady of Christ’s” for his youthful beauty.
  • Milton was married three times, with his first wife briefly leaving him during the English Civil War.
  • He was known for his staunch defence of free speech, expressed in his work *Areopagitica*.
  • Milton’s *Paradise Lost* is regarded as one of the greatest works of literature in English.
Famous Works
  • Paradise Lost (1667)
  • Paradise Regained (1671)
  • Lycidas (1637)

 


 

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