Addison, Joseph

English poet and dramatist, and one of the most celebrated of English essayists. In 1704 he commemorated Marlborough's victory at Blenheim in a poem commissioned by the government, ‘The Campaign’. He subsequently held political appointments and was a Member of Parliament for Malmesbury from 1708 until his death. From 1709 to 1711 he contributed to the Tatler magazine, begun by Richard Steele, with whom he was cofounder in 1711–12 of the Spectator.

His neoclassical blank verse tragedy Cato (1713) was highly respected in the 18th century, but as a poet and dramatist Addison formerly held a much higher place than he now does. His essays, however, set a new standard of easy elegance in English prose and his work foreshadows modern journalism.