Jonathan Swift

While living at Moor Park, Jonathan Swift met eight-year-old Esther Johnson, whose widowed mother was the companion to Sir William Temple's sister, Lady Giffard. Initially, he acted as her tutor and gave her the nickname, Stella. Slowly, despite the difference in age, they became close friends.

Later, from October 1702, Esther, now twenty years old, began to live with him in his house in Ireland. Although many suspected them to be married secretly, there is no evidence of that. Moreover, Rebecca Dingley, another member of William Temple's household, also lived in the same house with them.

Meanwhile in 1707, while he was staying in London, he met Esther Vanhomrigh, whom he called Vanessa. For 16-17 years they had an intense relationship; but when in 1723, she asked him not to see Stella, he refused. This put an end to their relationship.

Jonathan Swift was born on 30 November 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. His father, also named Jonathon Swift, was originally from Goodrich, Herefordshire, and his mother, Abigail Erick, was from Frisby on the Wreake, a village in Leicestershire. He had an elder sister named Jane.

The Swifts belonged to a family of royalists from England and when their estate was destroyed by the Roundheads towards the end of the English Civil War, Senior Jonathan Swift had followed his elder brother Godwin to Ireland, seeking a career in law. There he had secured a modest post of a Steward of the King's Inn.

Sr. Jonathan Swift had died in the spring of 1667 and Jonathan Jr. was born in the following November. Left with no resources of her own, his mother left him in care of Godwin, by then a respected attorney in Dublin and went back to England.

In 1673, Jonathan was enrolled at the Kilkenny Grammar School, which at that time was one of the most prestigious schools in Ireland. Before that, he had spent some years in England with his nurse. At school, he excelled in languages and enjoyed studying literature.

On reaching England, Jonathan Swift contacted his mother, who had by then settled in Leicester and for whom he still retained some tenderness. By that time, Godwin Swift had died and although his son Willoughby provided some assistance, it became imperative that Swift should now become independent.

Mrs. Swift was related to the wife of English Statesman Sir William Temple, who, by that time, had retired from active service and was living in his country estate in Moor Park, Surrey, writing his memoire. Sometime towards the end of 1689, Jonathan Swift secured a position in Sir William Temple’s household.

Initially, he acted as the amanuensis for Sir William and also kept the household accounts. However, he soon became ill and returned to Ireland in 1690. Most probably, it was the beginning of Ménière's disease, which plagued him all through his life.

In Ireland, he first looked for fresh employment, but was not able to secure any. Therefore, he returned to England and in the autumn of 1691, accepted employment under Sir William Temple once again. This time, he gained the confidence of his master and his position was improved.

Swift was now consulted on various important matters. His master also introduced him to King William III and often sent him to London on various important issues. With his help, Swift also completed his studies, receiving his M.A. degree in 1692 from Hart Hall, Oxford.

Finally, unable to get anything worthwhile, Swift accepted the post of secretary and chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley, one of the Lords Justice of Ireland. Unfortunately, when he made the long journey from England to Ireland, he learned that somebody else had been appointed in his place.

Though disappointed he remained in Ireland and in 1700, he obtained the position of the prebend of Dunlavin in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Concurrently, he was chaplain to Lord Berkeley.

In 1702, Swift received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Trinity College, Dublin. Since the congregation was very small, he did not have much to do and having ample time on his hand he now concentrated on writing.

However, as chaplain to Lord Berkeley, he often had to travel to Dublin and London. In 1704, while on a visit to England, he had ‘A Tale of a Tub’ and ‘The Battle of the Books’ published anonymously. Although the Church of England disapproved them, they became widely popular.