Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Matthew Prior

Role / Field:

English poet, statesman, and diplomat, known for securing the Treaties of Utrecht.

Born:

1664-07-21

Died:

1721-09-18

Century / Era:

1664s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Matthew Prior (21 July 1664 – 18 September 1721) was an English poet, statesman, and diplomat, who played a crucial role in securing the Treaties of Utrecht, serving as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1712 to 1715. He is also known as a contributor to The Examiner. Prior was born in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, where he lived with his father George, a Nonconformist joiner. His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster School, under Dr Richard Busby.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After his father's death, he left school, and was cared for by his uncle, a vintner in Channel Row. Here, Lord Dorset found him reading Horace, and set him to translate an ode. He did so well that the Earl offered to contribute to the continuation of his education at Westminster. One of his schoolfellows and friends at Westminster was Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax. It was to avoid being separated from Montagu and his brother James that Prior accepted, against his patron's wish, a scholarship recently founded at St John's College, Cambridge.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He took his B.A. degree in 1686, and two years later became a fellow. In collaboration with Montagu, he wrote in 1687 the City Mouse and Country Mouse, in ridicule...

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• 1664 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1664
• July 21 (07-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 21
• 1721 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1721
• September 18 (09-18) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 18

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew Prior