Poems by John Milton (1608 - 1674)

The author of the great epic poem, Paradise Lost, John Milton was born in Cheapside London. He was educated at St Paul's School and Christ's College Cambridge. He was planning to become a minister, but at university he began to write poetry and he made writing his career. His family was well-to-do and supported him in his endeavours. He also worked as a schoolmaster. As well as writing poetry, he was an energetic radical campaigner and writer of political tracts and pamphlets. He was a supporter of and propagandist for the Parliamentary faction through the Civil War. He went blind, probably due to glaucoma in 1654 and had to dictate all his work after this date. He died and is buried in London.