Jonathan Swift, 1667 - 1745
Author of this webpage: Renée Goodvin
Jonathan Swift, an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, poet, historian, and autobiographer was born in 1667. Swift's father died prior to his birth, leaving him, his mother, and three sisters dependent upon the charity of his father's family. He was well-provided for by his father's family and well-educated in the best schools in Ireland. In 1689, civil unrest in Ireland caused Swift to flee to England, where he secured a position as a secretary to Sir William Temple. While employed by Temple, Swift read widely and was introduced to many prominent individuals.Though Swift once proposed marriage to Jane Waring, in truth he placed a higher value on friendship than love or marriage. This was demonstrated by the relationship with his closest personal friend, Esther Johnson.
At one time it was believed that Swift was insane during the last years of his life. However, this notion has been discredited as it is now known that he suffered from Ménière's Syndrome. In 1742, he was declared incapable of caring for himself and placed in the custody of guardians. When he died in 1745, he was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral next to Esther Johnson.
A Jonathan Swift Timeline:
- 1667 - Swift is born
- 1689 - Swift flees to England from Ireland and attains a position as secretary to Sir William Temple
- May 1694 - May 1696 - Swift attains a vicarage in Kilroot, Ireland
- 1689 - Swift flees to England from Ireland and attains a position as secretary to Sir William Temple
- During his time with Temple, Swift meets Esther Johnson
- 1699 - Temple dies
- 1699 - A Tale of a Tub and The Battle of the Books are completed
- 1701 - Swift's first publication: A pamphlet supporting Whig political theory, A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions between the Nobles and the Commons in Athens and Rome
- 1704 - A Tale of a Tub and The Battle of the Books are published
- 1699 - 1710 - Swift secures a series of church posts
- 1710 - 1711 - editor of the journal The Examiner
- 1714 - Swift returns to Ireland to assume the role of deanery at St. Patrick's Cathedral
- 1720 - Swift becomes politically active in the affairs of Ireland
- 1724 - Swift writes his Irish pamphlets, The Drapier's Letters and A Modest Proposal under the pseudonym of M. B. Drapier
- 1726 - Gulliver's Travels is written over a period of several years and published anonymously
- 1728 - Esther Johnson dies
- 1720s and 1730s - Swift continues to write political commentary, satire, and poetry; including Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift (1739)
- 1736 - Swift's health begins to decline
- 1740 - Swift suffers a paralytic stroke
- 1742 - Swift is unable to care for himself
- 1745 - Swift dies and is buried beside Esther Johnson in St. Patrick's Cathedral
- 1699 - A Tale of a Tub and The Battle of the Books are completed
Swift Links:
- JS - Quotations
- Jonathan Swift quotations from Barlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
- Gulliver's Travels
- Full text of Gulliver's Travels online.
- Swift - Criticism
- From the IPL Online Literary Criticism Collection.
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Last updated January 28, 2005