Mark Antony
Feeling of pulses, the physic of love;
Rhetorical courtings and…
John Cleveland, born on June 16, 1613, in Loughborough, Leicestershire, was an eminent English poet and satirist noted for his Royalist sympathies during the English Civil War. Educated at Hinckley Grammar School and subsequently at Christ's College, Cambridge, Cleveland demonstrated academic excellence. He became a fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and later a lecturer in rhetoric.
Cleveland’s literary prominence emerged in the mid-17th century, his sharp wit and adept use of metaphysical conceits resonating with his contemporaries. He was involved in the political turbulence of his time, fervently supporting the Royalist cause against Parliamentarian forces. His satirical works often targeted figures of the Parliamentary side, employing a biting humor and political commentary that earned him both acclaim and controversy.
When the Royalists faced defeat, Cleveland was captured and imprisoned in 1655. His release was facilitated shortly after, thanks in part to his literary reputation and compelling plea. He continued to write until his death on April 29, 1658, in London.
John Cleveland’s legacy endures through his vibrant and incisive satiric poetry, providing a vivid insight into the tumultuous era of the English Civil War, and marking him as a significant literary figure of 17th-century England.