Joseph Addison

1672-1719. Scholar, politician, dramatist/poet, journalist/essayist and member of the Kit-Kat Club. Famous for his collaborations with Richard Steele on the moral weeklies The Tatler and The Spectator.

Life and work

Addison was part of the Charterhouse in London, where he met Richard Steele. He taught pupils and was admired by them for his elegant scholarship and his knowledge of Latin poetry. His classical reputation soon extended to the literary circles of London, where he was taking a place amongst professional authors. Addison also translated texts.

Between 1699 and 1703, he traveled a lot in the course of his Grand Tour. [was this before or after the start of his literary career?]

Addison turned from poetry to point a moral against Popery and arbitrary power [what does this mean concretely?]. In 1699, Addison became a member of the famous Kit-Kat Club, to which all the great Whigs belonged. [but: not only]

His publication of "Remarks on several parts of Italy" in 1705 became so popular that it rose to 5 times the original price. The success of his poem "Campaign" was rewarded by a further promotion to an under-secretaryship of state in 1706. [why? who promoted him?]

When Richard Steele started The Tatler in 1709, Addison was not involved in it, but after a while he frequently contributed important papers. Steele founded another journal, The Spectator, and general opinion was that Addison was the main reason for the success. Addison's essays were admired by all the critics of the 18th century. He wrote in a humorous, critical or serious style and touched upon the various follies of the day. Addison achieved that general attention was paid to a then despised branch of literature.

Whigs and Tories were not only united in admiring Addison, but were equally anxious to claim a right to his phrases about liberty in the play Cato. [when first performed? what were these phrases? why were Whigs and Tories equally attracted?]

Addison published The Freeholder, which was a political "Spectator" in defence of orthodox whig principles. [when? what are orthodox Whig principles?]

In 1716, he married the Countess of Warwick, but lead an unhappy marriage, so he went to coffee houses more often. Addison's health was getting worse and his last published work [title? date of publication?] was of a different character that brought him into conflict with his old friend Steele [why?]. On June 17th 1719 he died of asthma and dropsy.

Sources

Joseph Addison, in: The Dictionary of National Biography. Volume I Abbadie-Beaden. Oxford University Press, 122-131.