John Donne
John Donne was born on January 2nd, 1572. John passed away March 31st, 1631 at 59 years old. John Donne was born in London, England. Donne attended Hart Hall, Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
John Donne was an English preacher and metaphysical poet best known for his verse and poems.
The son of a God fearing Catholic, he was brought up in a London that was full of tension. This would shape his early career as he could not become a clergyman, though this was what he desired to be.
As an adult, he served in the military and was involved in the
Azores Expedition in 1597 and the
Cadiz Raid in 1596. He would then work for Sir Thomas Egerton as a secretary, and it is during this time that he began writing love poetry and satirical verse.
However, things changed in 1601 when Donne secretly married Ann More and was found out. The marriage cost him his position at court and was a shock to her family. After losing everything, he found himself and his young wife in near poverty while still having to take care of twelve children.
In 1615, John Donne was ordained as a priest in the Church of England after encouragement from King James I. Over time, he rose through the ranks to become a Royal Chaplain and a celebrated preacher. By 1621, he was dean of the London-based St Paul’s Cathedral and was known for his philosophical insights and eloquent sermons.
His later writing combined the intellectual precision of his early poems with theological and deeply emotional themes in which he reflected on human connection, mortality, and spirituality.
John Donne died in 1631 and was buried at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
In his 1610 published work
Pseudo-Martyr, John Donne makes the argument for English Roman Catholics to take the Oath of Allegiance to King James I instead of hiding behind religious grounds.
Donne argues that people who resist the oath are pseudo-martyrs who are harming themselves rather than being heroes. He asserts that it is possible to remain loyal to Catholic doctrine and beliefs while obeying the king’s commands and decrees in secular matters.
The work was a favorite of King James I and was critical in shaping religious debate in England during this period.
Earlier in 1608, he published the work
Biathanatos, which challenges the belief that it is always a sin to commit suicide.
Donne looks into the religious, historical, and cultural perspectives on self-harm and argues that sometimes it may be justifiable to commit suicide. He asks some in-depth questions about ethical decision making, God's will, and death.
Related Authors
Fans of John Donne also enjoy these authors:
- Agatha Christie, author of: And Then There Were None / Ten Little Indians.
- H.G. Wells, author of: The Time Machine.
- T.S. Eliot, author of: The Poetry of T.S. Eliot.
- W.B. Yeats, author of: Irish Fairy and Folk Tales.
- Anonymous Anonymous, author of the Books by Anonymous Authors.
John Donne: F.A.Q
When was John Donne Born?
John Donne was born on January 2nd, 1572.
When did John Donne die?
John Donne died on March 31st, 1631 at 59 years old.
Where was John Donne Born?
John Donne was born in London, England.
What was the first book John Donne wrote?
The first book written by John Donne was The Flea, published in 1590.
What was the most recent book John Donne wrote?
His most recently released work was The Complete English Poems on December 24th, 2019.
What is the most popular book by John Donne?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular John Donne book is
John Donne's Poetry. Here are his most popular books:
- John Donne's Poetry (8)
How many books has John Donne written?
John Donne has written 24 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 2 Collections, 12 Poetry Collections, 7 Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the 21st-Century Oxford Authors Series, 1 book in the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series, 1 book in The Golden Age of Spiritual Writing Series.