Donne, John, 1572-1631 (poet and Church of England clergyman)
Dates
- Existence: 1572 - 1631
Biography
John Donne (1572-1631), poet and divine, was educated privately and at Hart Hall, Oxford, and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1592. He was ordained priest and deacon in 1615, and that year became royal chaplain. In 1616 he was appointed Rector of Keyston, Huntingdonshire, and of Sevenoaks, Kent, and became divinity reader at Lincoln's Inn. Donne was Dean of St Paul's, London, 1621-1631. He died on 31 March 1631. William Strode (1602-1645), poet and dramatist, was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He became canon of Christ Church, Oxford, and Vicar of Blackbourton, Oxfordshire, in 1638, and was Vicar of Badby, Northamptonshire, 1639-1642. Strode wrote poems and a tragi-comedy, 'The floating island', which was acted before Charles I at Oxford in 1636. He died at Christ Church on 11 March 1645.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Leaves signed by John Donne, 1623-1633
1. A leaf of eight lines, with an accompanying transcription. The leaf is signed 'Joannes Donne: ibidem Decanus. Sept. 27. 1623', and relates to John Donne, Dean of St Paul's.
2. A leaf from the Album Amicorum of Michael Corvinus. There is writing on the reverse in another hand, signed 'Johannes Donne 5 Octobr. 1633'. This relates to a different John Donne, possibly the Dean of Sion College. There are three accompanying pieces of related correspondence, 1939 and 1953.
Poems, 1620 (Circa)
Manuscript poems in English, c. 1620, with an index. The poems were possibly written by the amanuensis of Henry Percy, 9th Duke of Northumberland (1564-1632), Donne's friend and probably the former owner of the volume.
Poems, 1632 (Circa)
Manuscript poems in English with the signature on the flyleaf, 'Nar. Luttrell His Book 1680'. The volume includes Donne's epitaph, a poem addressed to him by his son, and other pieces. It is accompanied by related letters addressed to Geoffrey Keynes, c. 1950-1970.