1571-1631. English metaphysical poet whose
work is characterized by subtle imagery and
figurative language. In 1615 Donne took
orders in the Church of England and as dean
of St Paul's Cathedral, London, was noted for
his sermons. His poetry includes the sonnets
`Batter my heart, three person'd God' and
`Death be not proud', elegies, and satires.
Donne was brought up in the Roman Catholic
faith and matriculated early at Oxford to
avoid taking the oath of supremacy. Before
becoming a law student 1592 he travelled in
Europe. During his four years at the law
courts he was notorious for his wit and
reckless living. In 1596 he sailed as a
volunteer with Essex and Raleigh, and on his
return became private secretary to Sir Thomas
Egerton, Keeper of the Seal. This appointment
was ended by his secret marriage to Ann More
(died 1617), niece of Egerton's wife, and
they endured many years of poverty. The more
passionate and tender of his love poems were
probably written to her. From 1621 to his
death Donne was dean of St Paul's. His
sermons rank him with the century's greatest
orators, and his fervent poems of love and
hate, violent, tender, or abusive, give him a
unique position among English poets. His
verse was not published in collected form
until after his death, and was long out of
favour, but he is now recognized as one of
the greatest English poets.