|
Addison was born in Wiltshire, but soon after Joseph's
birth his father was appointed Dean of Lichfield and the Addison family
moved into the Cathedral Close.
Joseph Addison was educated at Lichfield
Grammar School. As a young man his literary fame grew rapidly and with
his friend Richard Steele, he contributed essays to the 'Tatler'.
His later work, the 'Spectator', containing essays by himself, Steele,
Pope, and others, is the most famous and influential of all 18th century
magazines.
Addison presented the philosophical and literary ideas of his
time to a wide audience in an easy, graceful style. In Sir Roger de Coverley,
the Tory country squire, Addison created one of the great English comic
characters.
As well as essays, Addison wrote poetry, political journalism,
and a tragedy, 'Cato', which was one of the most popular plays of
its day.
Like his fellow Lichfeldians, Johnson and Garrick, Addison is
buried in Westminster Abbey.
|
