Ben Jonson - Dramatist, Timeline and Childhood
Ben Jonson's Personal Details
Ben Jonson was an acclaimed English playwright, poet, and literary critic
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 11, 1572 |
| Died on | August 6, 1637 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Actors, Writers, Poets, Novelists, Playwrights, Dramatist, Poets |
| Spouses | Ann Lewis |
| Known as | Benjamin Jonson |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Westminster, London, England |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Epitaphs | Underneath this sable herse, Lies the subject of all verse,—, Sydneye's sister, Pembroke's mother., Death, ere thou hast slaine another,, Faire and learn'd and good as she,, Tyme shall throw a dart at thee. |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | bricklayer |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Westminster, London, England |
| Famous as | Dramatist, Poet & Actor |
| Died at Age | 65 |
// Famous Poets
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist and humanist. Read this brief biography to find more on his life & timeline.
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was an Indian freedom fighter and poet. Read this brief biography to find more on her life.
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet, politician and Nobel laureate. Go through this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Ben Jonson's photo
Who is Ben Jonson?
A highly acclaimed, literary figure from the 17trh century, Ben Jonson is widely hailed as ‘one of the most vigorous minds that ever added to the strength of English literature'. Second only to the world’s most legendary literary icon, William Shakespeare, this dramatist, poet and actor was best known for his satirical and comedy plays. His writings played a pivotal role in shaping English stage comedy and poetry. Some of his well-known works include, 'Every Man in His Humour ', 'Volpone, or The Foxe', 'The Alchemist', 'Bartholomew Fayre: A Comedy', 'The Coronation Triumph', 'The Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers', 'Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue' and 'The Staple of News'. Unfortunately, all through his life he became a victim of many controversies be it on the personal front, political or artistic. His legacy, however, continues to live. He played a major influence on playwrights across the world. It was he who popularised the genre of comedy, referred to as ‘comedy of humours’ in stage play.
// Famous Dramatist
W B Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life and other facts related to his life.
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, better known as Maxim Gorky, was a Russian author. This biography of Gorky provides detailed information about his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline.
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist and women’s right activist, known for her non-conventional plays. This biography of Caryl Churchill provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Childhood & Early Life
Ben Jonson was born in Westminster, London, England. His father was a clergyman, who died before he was born. His mother married again after two years.
He went to a school located in St. Martin's Lane for some time, after which his education was funded by a family friend and he thereby continued his studies at the Westminster School.
After he graduated from Westminster, he was forced to work under his step-father, who was a bricklayer. He later went to Netherlands, where he served as a soldier with the English regiment.
Career
He co-wrote the play, ‘The Isle of Dogs', which was performed in 1597 at The Swan theatre in London. It is believed that due to satirical elements in the play, it was immediately supressed.
Performed around 1597, his play titled, ‘The Case is Altered’, was not printed for publication until a decade after. The following year, his play, ‘Every Man in His Humour' was published.
Performed in 1599, the satirical comedy play, ‘Every Man out of His Humour', was a sequel to his earlier play, ‘Every Man in His Humour'. His subsequent plays include, ‘Cynthia's Revels', ' The Poetaster' and 'Sejanus His Fall'.
In 1603, he wrote the masques for the ‘Stuart Court’ titled, ‘The Entertainment at Althorp', which is also referred to as ‘The Satyr'. This was one of his first works for the European royal house.
In 1604, his masque, ‘The Coronation Triumph’, a literary piece written for the coronation of King James I was performed. The same year, he also authored ‘A Private Entertainment of the King and Queen on May-Day’.
Performed and printed in 1605, his satirical comedy play, ‘Eastward Ho' was co-written with George Chapman and John Marston. The same year, his other comedy play, ‘Volpone' was performed.
From 1605 onwards, he wrote several works of entertainment for the royal European house. Some of which include, 'The Masque of Blackness', 'Hymenaei' 'The Masque of Beauty', 'The Masque of Queens' and 'The Hue and Cry After Cupid'.
In 1609, his comedy play, ‘Epicœne, or The Silent Woman' was performed. His subsequent plays include, 'The Alchemist', 'Catiline His Conspiracy', 'Bartholomew Fair' and 'The Devil is an Ass'.
In 1625, his play titled, ‘The Staple of News' was performed at the Blackfriars Theatre. This play was only published in later years and is regarded as one of his finest works.
In 1633, 'A Tale of a Tub', a comedy play, was performed at the Cockpit theatre in London. This was one of the last of his plays that was performed during his lifetime.
Major Works
His most popular play, ‘Volpone’ is one among his most performed plays. It has been adapted several times all over the world, including on Broadway. It has also been made into motion picture in several languages.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1594, he married Ann Lewis. The couple lived together all through their life.
He and William Shakespeare shared a very close relationship. However, there are many legends about his rivalry to him.
In the 1620s his health began to decline which coincided with his dwindling career.
He died at the age of 65 in Westminster, London, England. He was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.
In 2012, after many years of research the Cambridge University Press came out with an edition of his complete works spanning over a period of almost 60 years.
Trivia
This dramatist, poet and actor best known for his satirical, comedy plays, is considered second only to the world’s most legendary literary icon, William Shakespeare.
// Famous Poets
Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline
Seamus Heaney
Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. Know about his profile, childhood, life and timeline in the biography below.
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist and humanist. Read this brief biography to find more on his life & timeline.
Ben Jonson biography timelines
- // 11th Jun 1572Ben Jonson was born in Westminster, London, England. His father was a clergyman, who died before he was born. His mother married again after two years.
- // 1594In 1594, he married Ann Lewis. The couple lived together all through their life.
- // 1597He co-wrote the play, ‘The Isle of Dogs', which was performed in 1597 at The Swan theatre in London. It is believed that due to satirical elements in the play, it was immediately supressed.
- // 1597Performed around 1597, his play titled, ‘The Case is Altered’, was not printed for publication until a decade after. The following year, his play, ‘Every Man in His Humour' was published.
- // 1599Performed in 1599, the satirical comedy play, ‘Every Man out of His Humour', was a sequel to his earlier play, ‘Every Man in His Humour'. His subsequent plays include, ‘Cynthia's Revels', ' The Poetaster' and 'Sejanus His Fall'.
- // 1603In 1603, he wrote the masques for the ‘Stuart Court’ titled, ‘The Entertainment at Althorp', which is also referred to as ‘The Satyr'. This was one of his first works for the European royal house.
- // 1604In 1604, his masque, ‘The Coronation Triumph’, a literary piece written for the coronation of King James I was performed. The same year, he also authored ‘A Private Entertainment of the King and Queen on May-Day’.
- // 1605Performed and printed in 1605, his satirical comedy play, ‘Eastward Ho' was co-written with George Chapman and John Marston. The same year, his other comedy play, ‘Volpone' was performed.
- // 1605From 1605 onwards, he wrote several works of entertainment for the royal European house. Some of which include, 'The Masque of Blackness', 'Hymenaei' 'The Masque of Beauty', 'The Masque of Queens' and 'The Hue and Cry After Cupid'.
- // 1609In 1609, his comedy play, ‘Epicœne, or The Silent Woman' was performed. His subsequent plays include, 'The Alchemist', 'Catiline His Conspiracy', 'Bartholomew Fair' and 'The Devil is an Ass'.
- // 1625In 1625, his play titled, ‘The Staple of News' was performed at the Blackfriars Theatre. This play was only published in later years and is regarded as one of his finest works.
- // 1633In 1633, 'A Tale of a Tub', a comedy play, was performed at the Cockpit theatre in London. This was one of the last of his plays that was performed during his lifetime.
- // 6th Aug 1637He died at the age of 65 in Westminster, London, England. He was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.
- // 2012In 2012, after many years of research the Cambridge University Press came out with an edition of his complete works spanning over a period of almost 60 years.
// Famous Novelists
Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline
Milan Kundera
Milan Kundera is a Czech-born French writer known for his erotic and political writings. This biography of Milan Kundera provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir was an eminent French writer, intellectual, activist, and philosopher. This biography profiles her childhood, life, thoughts, achievements and timeline.
Sandra Cisneros
Sandra Cisneros is an American writer known for audaciously penning the realities and expectations from females in US and Mexico. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer, best known for her novels, short stories and poems. This biography of Margaret Atwood provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is an English writer of novels, short stories, children’s books and other literature. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Ben Jonson's FAQ
What is Ben Jonson birthday?
Ben Jonson was born at 1572-06-11
When was Ben Jonson died?
Ben Jonson was died at 1637-08-06
Where was Ben Jonson died?
Ben Jonson was died in Westminster, London, England
Which age was Ben Jonson died?
Ben Jonson was died at age 65
Where is Ben Jonson's birth place?
Ben Jonson was born in Westminster, London, England
What is Ben Jonson nationalities?
Ben Jonson's nationalities is British
Who is Ben Jonson spouses?
Ben Jonson's spouses is Ann Lewis
What was Ben Jonson universities?
Ben Jonson studied at Westminster School
What is Ben Jonson's religion?
Ben Jonson's religion is Roman Catholic
Who is Ben Jonson's father?
Ben Jonson's father is bricklayer
What is Ben Jonson's sun sign?
Ben Jonson is Gemini
How famous is Ben Jonson?
Ben Jonson is famouse as Dramatist, Poet & Actor