Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

Role / Field:

Restoration poet and satirist known for his libertine lifestyle and sharp wit.

Born:

1647-04-01

Died:

1680-07-26

Century / Era:

1647s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (2 April 1647 (O.S.) – 26 July 1680 (O.S.)) was an English poet and courtier of King Charles II's Restoration court, who reacted against the "spiritual authoritarianism" of the Puritan era. Rochester embodied a novel rebellion against the puritan programme, and he became as well known for his rakish lifestyle as for his poetry, although the two were often interlinked. He died as a result of a sexually transmitted infection at the age of 33. Rochester was described by his contemporary Andrew Marvell as "the best English satirist", and he is generally considered to be the most considerable poet and the most learned among the Restoration wits.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His poetry was widely censored during the Victorian era, but enjoyed a revival from the 1920s onwards, with reappraisals from noted literary figures such as Graham Greene and Ezra Pound. The critic Vivian de Sola Pinto linked Rochester's libertinism to Hobbesian materialism. During his lifetime Rochester was best known for A Satyr Against Reason and Mankind and it remains among his best-known works today. John Wilmot was born at Ditchley House in Oxfordshire on 1 April 1647...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Athanasius Kircher — Contemporary (Died in 1680) (1680): German Jesuit polymath renowned for works in religion, geology, and comparative studies.
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• François de La Rochefoucauld (writer) — Contemporary (Died in 1680) (1680): Influential 17th-century French moralist, celebrated for his cynical 'Maximes'.
• Abbé Prévost — Shared historical date (04-01 · Born) (1697): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
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• Aishwarya Lekshmi — Shared historical date (07-26 · Born) (1990): Acclaimed Indian actress working primarily in Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
• Albert Bandura — Shared historical date (07-26 · Died) (2021): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• 1647 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1647
• April 1 (04-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 1
• 1680 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1680
• July 26 (07-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 26

Frequently Asked Questions about John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester