John Milton is the peerless epic poet of England; he was a polyglot, civil servant, the author of “Areopagitica,” and the magnificent and spellbinding, Paradise Lost, among many other works of lasting importance. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the English language.

Milton was born in London to John Milton Sr. and Sarah Jeffrey. His father was a successful scrivener and composer of church music. Milton received his early education at St. Paul’s School in London, where he excelled in Latin and Greek. He then attended Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

After leaving Cambridge, Milton lived with his family in Horton, Buckinghamshire, where he spent several years studying and writing poetry. In 1632, he traveled to Italy, where he met many prominent intellectuals and writers, including the astronomer Galileo Galilei. During his time in Italy, Milton wrote several poems, including “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso,” which explore the themes of joy and melancholy.

After returning to England in 1639, Milton became involved in politics, advocating for the rights of Puritans and criticizing the policies of the Anglican Church. He also began to write prose works, including “Of Reformation Touching Church Discipline in England” (1641) and “The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce” (1643), which argued for greater freedom in marriage and divorce.

In 1649, after the execution of King Charles I, Milton was appointed Secretary for Foreign Tongues in the government of Oliver Cromwell. In this role, he was responsible for writing diplomatic letters and documents in several languages. He also continued to write poetry, including Paradise Lost, which he began in the early 1650s.

Paradise Lost was published in 1667 and was an immediate critical and commercial success. The poem tells the story of Satan’s rebellion against God and the subsequent fall of Adam and Eve. It explores themes of free will, temptation, and the nature of evil. Milton followed up Paradise Lost with the sequel Paradise Regained (1671), which tells the story of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness.

Milton’s other major works include “Areopagitica” (1644), a defense of free speech and the press; “Samson Agonistes” (1671), a tragedy based on the biblical story of Samson; and several political pamphlets.

Milton’s later years were marked by personal tragedy. He was blinded by glaucoma in 1652, and his second wife, Katherine Woodcock, died in childbirth in 1658. Despite these painful personal setbacks, Milton continued to write and publish until his death in 1674. He was buried in St. Giles Cripplegate church in London.