Joseph Addison English writer, publicist, educator, politician, founder of English journalism. Date of Birth: 01.05.1672 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Joseph Addison
2. Scholarly and Political Achievements
3. The Spectator and Later Work
4. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison was an English writer, journalist, educator, politician, and the founder of English journalism. He was born on May 1, 1672, in Milston, Wiltshire, to a family of a clergyman. In 1683, his father became the rector of Lichfield Cathedral, and Joseph enrolled in a local Latin grammar school. In 1686, he was admitted to Charterhouse School in London, where he met Richard Steele. From 1687 to 1699, Addison studied at the University of Oxford, first at Queen's College and then at Magdalen College. He received his Bachelor's degree in 1691 and his Master's degree in 1693. In 1698, he entered the graduate program at Magdalen College.

Scholarly and Political Achievements

Addison gained recognition as a scholar and poet and developed friendships with John Dryden and William Congreve. In 1699, as he prepared for a diplomatic career, he received a royal grant of £200 for a trip to the continent. From 1699 to 1703, Addison traveled throughout Europe. Upon his return to England in 1704, he wrote the poem "The Campaign" in honor of the victory at the Battle of Blenheim. In the same year, he was appointed to the Appeals Commission and a year later became an assistant to the Secretary of State. He also published "Travels in Italy" in 1705. In 1706, he accompanied the Earl of Halifax to Hanover on an important diplomatic mission. In 1707, his opera "Rosamond" was performed on stage but did not achieve success. In 1708, Addison was elected to Parliament and served as the Chief Secretary for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1708 to 1710. During this time, he also wrote numerous essays for "The Tatler," a journal primarily edited by Steele. Addison contributed over 40 essays to the publication.

The Spectator and Later Work

After the closure of "The Tatler," Addison and Steele started publishing a much more famous journal called "The Spectator" on March 1, 1711. It was published six times a week and gained great success. The essays dedicated to Sir Roger de Coverley and his friends were particularly popular, covering various topics such as literary criticism, social manners, religion, morality, and even fashion. "The Spectator" published 555 issues before ceasing publication on December 6, 1712. Addison wrote 274 essays for "The Spectator," signing them with the four letters C.L.I.O., which formed the name of the muse of history. On June 18, 1714, he resumed publishing "The Spectator" without Steele's involvement, but it did not enjoy the same level of success. In 1713, Addison wrote 53 essays for "The Guardian," a journal that Steele started publishing as a successor to "The Spectator." In April of the same year, his classical tragedy "Cato" was performed with great success, partly due to its political references. In 1715, after the Jacobite Rebellion, Addison founded the bi-weekly journal "The Freeholder" (December 23, 1715, to June 29, 1716), which satirized the Jacobites. In 1716, his comedy "The Drummer" was anonymously performed at Drury Lane Theatre but did not achieve success. In the same year, he married Charlotte, Countess of Warwick, whom he had courted for almost twelve years.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1717, Addison reached the pinnacle of his political career, becoming a minister and a member of the Privy Council. Shortly before his death, he became involved in a heated dispute with Steele over a bill in Parliament concerning peerage. Steele wrote a pamphlet against the bill titled "The Plebeian," to which Addison responded with "The Old Whig." Addison passed away on June 17, 1719, at his home in Holland House, London. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.