JOHN MILTON POET

JOHN MILTON

SELLS PARADISE LOST

APRIL 27, 1667

The blind poet John Milton sells his masterpiece “Paradise Lost” for the mere price

of 10 pounds.

Milton was born and raised the indulged son of a prosperous London businessman, he

excelled at langusges in grammer school and at Christ's College in Cambridge from which

he took a bachelor;s and master's degree in 1632. He then spent six more years reading

major works of literature in several languages and published an elegy for a classmate,

“Lycdas”. In 1638 he went abroad to continue his studies.

Milton married in 1642 to 17 year old Mary Powell who left him weeks later. Mlton wrote

a series that argued for divorce for incompatibility that was considered scandalous and he

experienced backlash for the writings. The wife returned in 1645 and the pair had three

daughters.

Continuing controversial views in his writing, supporting the execution of Charles I ,

railed against the bishops control of churches, and upheld Cromwell's commonwealth.

He became the secretary of foreign languages under Cromwell.

1651 he lost eyesight but fulfilled his duties with help of assistants which included the

poet Andrew Marvell.

His wife died in 1652 and he remarried but lost this wife during childbirth in 1656.

The Cromwell Commonwealth was overturned and Milton was jailed then saved by

intervention of friends, however, he had lost his position and property.

Milton again remarried in 1663, blind, jobless and impoverished, he dictated his poem,

“Paradise Lost “ to his family and sold it for 10 pounds. The poem was hailed a masterpiece.

He wrote “Paradise Regained” and “Samson Agonistes” in 1671..

John Milton, poet, died in 1674.

Abstract: Harrison H. 04/27/18 of History.com - this day in history, A&E Network LLC