About
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, was a leading figure at the court of Charles II and one of the most brilliant wits of the English Restoration. Born in 1647, he succeeded his father in 1658 and was educated at Oxford. After a Grand Tour, he became a royal favorite, known for his dissolute life and satirical poetry. His works, such as 'A Satyr Against Mankind', criticize hypocrisy and human reason. He died in 1680 at age 33, after a religious conversion on his deathbed.
* 1647-04-01 — † 1680-07-26
Major works
- A Satyr Against Mankind (1675)satirical poem
- Upon Nothingpoem
- The Imperfect Enjoymentpoem
- The Disabled Debaucheepoem
Key milestones
- 1658Succeeds his father as 2nd Earl of Rochester.
- 1674Appointed ranger of Woodstock Forest, where he wrote much of his later poetry.
- 1680Dies at age 33, presumably from complications of syphilis and alcoholism.
Themes
Social and political satireCritique of human reasonLibertinism and excessDeath and redemptionHypocrisy
Sources: britannica.com · en.wikisource.org · lccn.loc.gov