JONATHAN SWIFT

Jonathan Swift was the greatest English satirists. His bitter sa­tire was aimed at social order and policy of the English bourgeoisie towards the Irish.

He was born in Dublin (1667), but he came from an English fa­mily, His father, supervisor at the court buildings of Dublin, died at the age of 25, living his wife and daughter penniless.

His son was born seven months after his death, on November 30, 1667. He was named Jonathan after his late father.

The boy knew little of his mother's care: she had to go to back to her native town of Leicester. The boy was supported by his uncle Godwin.

At the age of 6 he was sent to Kilkenny school, which he left at the age of 14. Then he entered Trinity College in Dublin and got his Bachelor's degree in 1686.

In 1688, after uprising in Ireland, he sailed over to England and, after many years he saw his mother once again in Leicester. With her help he become private secretary and account keeper to Sir William Temple. Sir William was a retired diplomat and also a writer.

At Moor Park Swift made friends with Esther Johnson, the daugh­ter of a house-keeper. He taught the little girl English spelling and gave her advice in reading. This friendship lasted all his life.

After the death of Sir William Temple in 1699, Swift became a vicar again and went to live in a little place called Laracor, in Dublin. He invit­ed Hester Johnson to come to this place. It is believed that he made secret marriage with Stella, but much of his private life is unknown to us.

At Laracor Swift kept an eye on the political life of England. He wrote to magazines and showed that he understood the spirit of the time.

In 1713 Swift made Dean of St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin. While in Dublin he came into contact with poor people and saw how miserable their life was.

In 1726 Swift's masterpiece "Gulliver's travels" appeared. Swift's inventive genius and satire made a great sensation.

 In 1728 Stella died after a long illness. This loss affected Swift so deeply that he was never the same man again.

Hard work and continuos disappointments ruined his health. By the end mind was falling rapidly. In 1740 his memory and reason were gone and he became completely deaf.

He died on the 19th of October 1745 in Dublin.