Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison Biography

Joseph Addison biography and 2 books available to download for free for iPhone, iPad, Nook, Android, and Kindle in PDF and all popular eBook reader formats (AZW3, EPUB, MOBI).

Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, and politician who was born on May 1, 1672 in Milston, Wiltshire, England. He was the eldest son of Lancelot Addison, a Church of England clergyman. He attended the Charterhouse School in London and then studied at Oxford University.

In 1693, he began his career as a writer with the publication of a poem in the Oxford University magazine. He also wrote for several other publications, including The Tatler and The Spectator. His essays in The Spectator, which he co-founded with Sir Richard Steele, were widely read and influential in the 18th century.

Addison also had a successful career in politics, serving as a member of Parliament and as a government official. He was appointed Secretary of State for the Southern Department in 1717, a position he held until 1718.

In addition to his writing and political career, Addison was also known for his social and literary connections. He was a close friend of Alexander Pope and was a member of the literary group known as the Kit-Kat Club.

Addison died on June 17, 1719 in Holland Park, London, England, due to tuberculosis. His works, including The Spectator, remain popular and influential to this day.