Jonathan Swift

1667–1745

Jonathan Swift was an Irish Clergyman and an 18th century literary figure. He is most famous as the author of Gulliver's Travels, but also wrote several other books, plays, and poems, as well as a number of famous essays. He was politically active in the Tory party toward the end of the reign of Queen Anne, and many of his essays have political overtones. His A Modest Proposal, for example is a political satire that censure's the British government's indifference to the suffering of the Irish peasants. Even Gulliver's Travels is an allegory with highly political overtones, making fun of the Whig government that controlled Britain during most of Swift's life.

HIS ARMS AND LEGS WERE TIGHTLY FASTENED TO THE GROUND.

Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father's family was Anglo-Irish, and he was educated at Trinity college and ordained as a minister in the Anglican-Irish Church in 1694. In 1688 the Catholic James II was deposed as king of England, but Ireland rose in rebellion and declared for him. Swift was sent to England for several years and during this period, tried, but was unable to find a position in London. He returned to Ireland, and eventually became a minister of a small country church. He was, however, very disappointed in his situation, since he considered Ireland a depressing back-water, and turned to writing for solace. His efforts to find a position outside did not cease for many years.

In 1710 the Torys returned to power and he lived for several years in London where he wrote political pamphlets for the Tory government. When in London he become acquainted with the literature circle there, including Alexander Pope, who became a life-long friend. In 1714 however, the Torys fell out of favor and he returned again to Ireland and continued writing. He maintained his interest in politics, and wrote several essays on issues related to Ireland, mostly published anonymously. In 1726 he published his masterpiece Gulliver's Travels under a pseudonym, since its political overtones were fairly obviously critical of the Whig government. He lived the rest of his life in Ireland and died in 1744.

Key events during the life of Jonathan Swift:

Year	Event
1667	Born in Ireland, orphaned early, and raised by father's family.
1682	Attended Trinity College in Dublin.
1688	Left for England during the Williamite War in Ireland.
1694	Ordained into the Church of Ireland.
1704	Began to publish. First play entitled Tale of a Tube.
1710	Published political pamphlets for the Tories.
1714	Returned to Ireland on the fall of the Tory Government.
	Continued writing and pamphleteering.
1729	Published A Modest Proposal.
1726	Published Gulliver's Travels.
1728	Death of Esther Johnson.
1745	Death of Jonathan Swift

Book Links
Stories of Gulliver's Travels Told to the Children  by  John Lang

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Lesson in Manners  in	Fifty Famous People  by  James Baldwin
Ireland in the Eighteenth Century  in	Ireland: Peeps at History  by  Beatrice Home
Swift—'The Journal to Stella'  in	English Literature for Boys and Girls  by  H. E. Marshall

Image Links
Dean Swift  in Ireland: Peeps at History

Contemporary	Short Biography
Alexander Pope	Eminent poet and Satirist of the enlightenment era. Wrote Essay on Criticism.
Anne of England	Last of the Stuart queens, lived during the War of the Spanish Succession.
George I	First Hanoverian Monarch of Britain. Entrusted government to Robert Walpole
Esther Johnson	Very close female friend of Swift's. Possibly secretly married.