Joseph Addison

(1 May 1672 - 17 June 1719)
Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

Works in ECPA

alphabetical listing / listing in source editions

Source editions

  • Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. The campaign: a poem, to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough. By Mr. Addison. London: printed for Jacob Tonson, 1705 [1704]. [4],23,[1]p. ; 2⁰. (ESTC N26484; Foxon A27; OTA K014868.000)
  • Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. To her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, with the tragedy of Cato. Nov. 1714. To Sir Godfrey Kneller, on his picture of the King. London: printed for J. Tonson, 1716 [1715]. [2],9,[1]p. ; 2⁰. (ESTC T51118; Foxon A41-A42; OTA K046707.000)
  • Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. The resurrection. A poem: Written by Mr. Addison. Resurrectio delineata ad altare col. Magd. Oxon. English and Latin. London: printed for E. Curll, 1718. xii,8,17-21,[1]p.,plate ; 8⁰. (ESTC N13275; Foxon A204; OTA K008178.000)
  • Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. Two poems: viz. I. On the deluge, paradise, the burning of the world, and of the new heavens and new earth. An ode to. Dr. Burnett. II. In praise of physic and poetry. An ode to Dr. Hannes. Written by Mr. Addison. London: printed for E. Curll, 1718. 24p. : ill ; 8⁰. (ESTC T75001; Foxon N275; OTA K063010.000)
  • Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. Mr. Addison's fine ode to Dr. Thomas Burnet, on his sacred theory of the earth: Done into English by the author of a late tale call'd Coffee. Ad insignissimum virum, D. Thomam Burnettum. English. London: printed for T. Warner, 1727. [4],15,[1]p. ; 4⁰. (ESTC T143099; Foxon M288; OTA K111808.000)

Biographical note

Joseph Addison was born at Milston rectory, Wiltshire, the son of a clergyman, Lancelot Addison (1632-1703). He attended Lichfield Grammar School and entered The Queen's College, Oxford, in 1687, transferring to Magdalen College in 1689. Addison began writing poetry (mostly in Latin) while still a student and attracted Whig patronage, which enabled him to go on the Grand Tour from 1699 to 1702. With the help of his influential Whig patrons, Addison embarked on a successful political career which was aided by the success of his poem The Campaign, celebrating Marlborough's victory at Blenheim. When the Whigs lost power in 1710, Addison devoted himself to his literary ambitions. He became a publisher (with his school friend Richard Steele), wrote plays, established himself as an accomplished essayist, and became a patron for younger poets, including Thomas Tickell. Addison briefly revived his political career after 1714, on the accession of George I. He became Secretary of State for the Southern Department, and appointed Tickell his Under-Secretary. He married Charlotte Rich, Countess of Warwick, in 1716. Addison retired from politics due to ill health in 1718. He died on 17 June 1719 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Tickell edited Addison's Works, in four volumes, in 1721.

Bibliography

ODNB 156; NCBEL 41, 233-4, 1098-112; DMI 1184; DLB 101

Manuscripts

  • Smith, Margaret M. Index of English Literary Manuscripts. Vol. III, 1700-1800 . London: Mansell, 1986-1997. Pt. 1 Addison-Fielding. 3-12. Print. 4 volumes.

Editions

  • Guthkelch, A. C., ed. The Miscellaneous Works of Joseph Addison. London: Bell, 1914. Print.

Bibliography

  • Alston, Robin C. A checklist of the works of Joseph Addison. [S.l.]: [S.n.], [1976]. Print.

Biography

  • Smithers, Peter. The life of Joseph Addison. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1968. Print.

Reference works