John Cleveland
John Cleveland was a notable English poet and scholar born in June 1613 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Cleveland was influenced by Puritan thought during his youth, studying under the preacher Richard Vines, and he became known for his elegant lyric poetry and incisive political satire. His early work included an elegy for Edward King, which was published alongside John Milton's "Lycidas." Throughout his career, Cleveland's writing increasingly targeted political themes, notably critiquing the Puritans and figures such as Oliver Cromwell during a tumultuous period in England's history.
His political engagement led to a series of moves, including his relocation to Oxford and eventual expulsion from Cambridge after the execution of William Laud in 1645. Despite challenges, including arrest in 1655, he continued to write and was recognized as one of the last metaphysical poets, known for his wit and inventive use of conceit. Cleveland spent his final years in London, where he befriended fellow writer Samuel Butler, before passing away from fever on April 29, 1658. He never married, leaving a legacy as a transitional figure in English poetry, bridging earlier styles with emerging political commentary.
On this Page
Subject Terms
John Cleveland
Poet
- Born: June 1, 1613
- Birthplace: Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
- Died: April 29, 1658
Biography
John Cleveland was born in June, 1613, in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. His father was Thomas Cleveland, a clergyman and teacher who had graduated from Saint John’s College, Cambridge, in 1609. His mother was Elizabeth Hebbe Cleveland. In 1621, the family moved to Hinkley. While at Hinkley, Cleveland studied with Richard Vines, a Puritan preacher.
Cleveland entered Christ’s College, Cambridge, in 1627. He received the B.A. in 1631 and the M.A. in 1635. Between 1934 and 1942, he served as fellow of Saint John’s College. In addition to teaching, he participated in oratory and wrote a speech that celebrated the visit of King Charles I. His first published poem, an elegy for Edward King, appeared in the same collection as John Milton’s Lycidas. In addition to his lyric poetry, which was noted for its wit, Cleveland began writing poems of political satire. In this time of national turmoil, he targeted the Puritans in several satiric poems; in others, he targets specific individuals, such as Oliver Cromwell. In 1643, Cleveland moved to Oxford for political reasons.
After the execution of William Laud in 1645, Cleveland was expelled from Cambridge. He obtained a position at the garrison at Newark; however, the city soon fell to the Scots. Thereafter, he received financial support from other Royalists. He was arrested on November 10, 1655, but was released after writing a personal letter to Cromwell. Cleveland spent the final years of his life at Gray’s Inn, London, where he befriended Samuel Butler. Perhaps weakened from his imprisonment, he died April 29, 1658, of a fever. He had never married.
John Cleveland was one of the last metaphysical poets. His verse is marked by wit, exaggeration, and heavy use of conceit. As a transitional figure, he is most noted for his early attempts at political satire and his influence on writers who continued to pursue the genre, such as Samuel Butler.