Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty (1611-1660) is not as well known as many other writers of universal languages are. He was probably born in the family’s town house in Banff or in the old castle of Cromarty but there is … Continued
The notable Digger Gerrard Winstanley was born in October 1609 in Lancashire, a predominantly Royalist region in the mid seventeenth century. There are no concrete details on his early childhood, but it is assumed he attended a state-sponsored grammar school … Continued
George Dalgarno (1616-1687) was known as a writer of language. He was born in Old Aberdeen, Scotland. No primary documents have survived concerning his family background. There is no record of him graduating but there are records of him attending … Continued
Francis Bacon was born in Strand, London as the second of two sons to Sir Nicholas Bacon and his second wife, Anne. He spent most of his early life with his older brother near St. Albans in a location his … Continued
“The Description of Cookham” was first published in 1611 in Aemilia Lanyer’s volume of poetry Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum. Lanyer lived from 1569-1645. The poem is a farewell to the beloved estate Cookham and its lady, the Countess of Cumberland; … Continued
Thomas Sprat (bap. 1635-1713) was born in Beaminster, Dorset to his father, Thomas Sprat, and mother, name unknown. Receiving a great deal of education at Wadham College, Oxford (and Cambridge in 1671), he was eventually elected as a fellow of … Continued
Margaret Cavendish [née Lucas], Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1624?-1674) was born at St John’s Abbey in Essex. She was educated by private tutors, but not beyond a rudimentary level. Her tutors were probably elderly women without substantial connections to scholars who … Continued
“Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum” was first published in 1611 in Aemilia Lanyer’s volume of poetry by the same title, though the year it was written is unknown. Lanyer lived from 1569-1645. The poem addresses the Passion of Christ, contrasting the … Continued
Henrietta Maria, queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland, also known as Princess Henrietta Maria of France (1609-1669) was born in Paris and became the wife of King Charles I. The U.S. state of Maryland was named in her honor. … Continued
Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) was born in London, and was the seventh son of Thomas and Thomasine Cowley. Because his father died soon before Cowley’s birth, his mother, Thomasine, largely influenced Cowley’s education and career. In fact, her copy of Spenser’s … Continued