John Florio
John Florio was a notable figure in late sixteenth-century England, recognized for his linguistic skills and contributions to literature as a translator and educator. Born in London to Italian parents, his father was a Protestant minister who fled persecution in Tuscany. Florio's proficiency in Italian and French allowed him to influence the cultural scene of his time, translating numerous works and serving as a language tutor in the royal household. He published his first translation volume in 1578 and continued to produce significant works, including an Italian-English dictionary and a celebrated translation of Montaigne's essays in 1603.
Florio held various prestigious positions, including a private tutor to Prince Henry, son of King James I, and he was known to have close ties with notable literary figures like Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare. Some scholars suggest that he may have inspired the character Holofernes in Shakespeare's "Love's Labor's Lost." His contributions earned him a respected place in the literary community, and he passed away in 1625 due to the plague. Florio's legacy reflects the cultural exchange between Italy and England during a significant period of literary development.
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John Florio
Linguist
- Born: 1553
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: 1625
- Place of death: Fulham, England
Biography
John Florio was born in London to Italian parents, and it was his mastery of multiple languages that afforded him great influence in the cultural affairs of late sixteenth century England. Florio translated numerous volumes of Italian and French literature into English, worked as a language tutor in the royal household, and counted among his associates such literary figures as Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare.
John Florio’s father, Michael Angelo Florio, was a Protestant minister in Tuscany who fled to London under persecution around 1550. In London he became pastor of a congregation of exiled Italian Protestants. As a youth, John Florio lived for some time at Oxford, and in 1576 he was appointed as a tutor the bishop of Durham’s son, who was a student at Magdalen College. In 1578, Florio published his first volume of translations from Italian, Florio: His First Fruites. . . Also a Perfect Introduction to the Italian and English Tongues, and in 1581 he was admitted to the faculty of Magdalen College as a teacher of Italian and French. He published a second collection in 1591 and an Italian-English dictionary in 1598. His most acclaimed work, however, was a 1603 translation of selected essays by Montaigne.
Florio made the acquaintance of numerous prominent people who served as his patrons, and several of his volumes are dedicated to noble men and women. Florio became a private tutor to Prince Henry, son of King James I, and also instructed Queen Anne in Italian. Among the titles Florio held in the royal household were gentleman of the privy chamber and clerk of the closet to the queen.
Florio was well regarded in the literary community. His wife was the sister of a prominent poet, and a famous copy of Ben Jonson’s Volpone is affectionately inscribed to Florio as a “worthy friend.” While some scholars have maintained that Florio was the inspiration for Holofernes, a pompous character in Shakespeare’s Love’s Labors Lost, it is also believed that he was a close friend of the Bard and perhaps assisted in his study of Italian and French. Florio died of the plague at Fulham in 1625.