John Donne

DONNE, John. b. London, between 24 Jan/19 June 1572; d. London, 31 March 1631. He entered Hart Hall (now Hertford College) Oxford in 1584 and Lincoln’s Inn in 1592. He pursued a successful court career, including foreign service with the Earl of Essex until 1601, the year in which he became Member of Parliament for Brackley, Northamptonshire, and secretly married Ann More without her parents’ permission. This apparent rashness incurred the wrath of his influential patrons, led to his brief imprisonment, isolation from the London society he so loved, and ensured he would never be trusted with courtly office again (‘John Donne/Anne Donne/undone’). King James then recommended ordination, which...