Born: 9 December 1608 · Died: 8 November 1674 · Age at death: 65
How old was John Milton when he died?
John Milton died aged 65. He was born on 9 December 1608 and died on 8 November 1674.
English poet who wrote the epic Paradise Lost after going blind, and a defender of free speech in Areopagitica
Did you know?He was a polyglot who was fluent in several languages including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Italian.
Quick facts
Date of birth9 December 1608
Date of death8 November 1674
Age at death65
Cause of deathKidney failure
NationalityEnglish
BirthplaceCheapside, United Kingdom
Occupationpoet, writer, politician
Editor's Take:
Milton is the poet who dared to rewrite the story of creation. Paradise Lost, his epic of Satan's rebellion and humanity's fall, ranks among the greatest poems in English. He wrote it after losing his sight, dictating the lines to helpers. He was also a fierce political writer who defended freedom of the press. His Satan has fascinated readers and artists for centuries.
Key Milestones
1637: Lycidas – elegy
1644: Areopagitica – free press pamphlet
1649: Government service – Latin secretary
1652: Blindness – loses sight
John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. His 1667 epic poem Paradise Lost was written in blank verse and included 12 books, written in a time of immense religious flux and political upheaval.
