John Dryden

NAME John Dryden

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Poet Laureate, playwright, and literary critic. Dryden is considered one of the most influential figures in English literature of the Restoration period.

BIRTH Dryden was born on August 9, 1631, in Aldwincle, Northamptonshire, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND He was the oldest of fourteen children born to Erasmus Dryden and his wife, Mary Pickering. His family was well-connected, with Puritan and Parliamentary sympathies during the English Civil War. Erasmus Dryden was primarily known as a politician and landowner, actively involved in the governance and administration of Northamptonshire and later serving in the English Parliament.

CHILDHOOD Dryden grew up in the Northamptonshire countryside and received a strict Puritan upbringing. He was exposed to classical literature and poetry from an early age, which influenced his later works.

EDUCATION He attended Westminster School, where he excelled in Latin and classical studies. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he deepened his knowledge of literature and rhetoric. After graduating, Dryden moved to London and secured a position with the Secretary of State, John Thurloe.

CAREER RECORD 1659 Dryden initially gained recognition with his poem Heroic Stanzas  written in praise of Oliver Cromwell. 

1660 After the Restoration of Charles II, he shifted political allegiance and became a royalist poet

1668 Appointed as England's first Poet Laureate in 1668, a position he held until 1688.

1670 Became royal historiographer. 

APPEARANCE Dryden was described as having a broad face, full cheeks, and expressive eyes. His nickname was "Poet Squab." The term "squab" typically refers to a young, plump bird, implying Dryden was somewhat rotund in appearance..

He had a large mole on his right cheek, which appears in all his portraits. 

John Dryden by Godfrey Kneller

FASHION As a man of letters and courtly circles, Dryden dressed in the elegant styles of the Restoration period, including long wigs, lace cravats, and richly embroidered coats.

CHARACTER Dryden was known for his sharp wit, intellectual rigor, and adaptability. Though he engaged in literary rivalries, he was also respected for his eloquence and keen analytical mind. He navigated the shifting political landscape with skill, aligning himself with the ruling powers of the time.

SPEAKING VOICE He was a compelling orator and writer, known for his polished and rhythmic prose. His voice was likely commanding and articulate, reflecting his mastery of language and rhetoric.

SENSE OF HUMOUR John Dryden was known for his sharp wit and biting satire, particularly in his poetry and plays. His 1682 work "Mac Flecknoe" is a famous example of his satirical style, mercilessly mocking his rival Thomas Shadwell. One of the most amusing passages from this work is demonstrated in this passage where he "praises" Shadwell for his unparalleled dullness and stupidity.

"Sh--------alone my perfect image bears,

Mature in dullness from his tender years.

Sh——alone, of all my Sons, is he

Who stands confirm'd in full stupidity.

The rest to some faint meaning make pretence,

But Sh——never deviates into sense."

Dryden’s humor often had a political edge, and his ability to craft clever insults made him both admired and feared.

RELATIONSHIPS Dryden married Lady Elizabeth Howard, the sister of Sir Robert Howard, on December 1, 1663 at St. Swithin's Church in London. At the time of their marriage, Lady Elizabeth was about 25 years old. 

Their marriage was not always a happy one, with rumors of infidelity on both sides, but they remained together until Dryden’s death in 1700. The couple had three sons: Charles, John, and Erasmus Henry. Despite their differences, Dryden often relied on his wife’s aristocratic connections, which helped his literary career.

Dryden and his family. Credit National Trust images

MONEY AND FAME John Dryden became the first official Poet Laureate in 1668, securing a salary of £200 per year along with a butt of canary wine (110 gallons of Spanish sherry). This prestigious title made him one of the most influential literary figures of his time. However, when James II was deposed in 1688, Dryden lost his position and its benefits, which caused financial strain in his later years.

FOOD AND DRINK As Poet Laureate, Dryden received an annual supply of canary wine, a prized drink of the period. 

Like many of his contemporaries, Dryden enjoyed good food and drink in the company of fellow writers and intellectuals.

WRITING CAREER John Dryden was, by all accounts, the dominant literary force of Restoration England. He was the sort of writer who could turn his hand to almost anything—plays, poetry, criticism, even a bit of political maneuvering when the moment demanded it. He also had the great fortune (or misfortune, depending on how you see it) of living through one of England’s more chaotic political periods, which meant that his career, much like the monarchy, had its fair share of highs and lows.

Dryden was, to put it mildly, not a man you wanted to annoy. He had a gift for satire that could reduce even the most powerful men in England to quivering piles of indignation. His "Absalom and Achitophel" (1681) was essentially an elaborate takedown of political figures disguised as biblical allegory. "Mac Flecknoe" (1682) was even more direct—a scathing attack on poet Thomas Shadwell so merciless that one can only assume Shadwell spent the rest of his days checking behind doors before entering a room.

When he wasn’t eviscerating his enemies in verse, Dryden was writing grand, sweeping poetry like "Annus Mirabilis" (1667), which celebrated England’s naval victories and managed to make the Great Fire of London sound like an unfortunate but ultimately character-building event.

As if dominating poetry weren’t enough, Dryden was also the leading playwright of his time. He wrote 27 plays, many of them wildly successful, including The Conquest of Granada (1670-1671), which was full of heroic couplets and larger-than-life characters, and Marriage à la Mode (1671), which was a tragicomedy—a genre that tried to be both tragic and comedic at once, like slipping on a banana peel and breaking your leg.

His All for Love (1677), a reworking of Antony and Cleopatra, is considered the best tragedy of the Restoration, while Don Sebastian (1689) and Amphitryon (1690) were among his greatest tragicomedies and comedies, respectively. For a time, Dryden was contractually obliged to produce three plays a year for the King’s Company, which must have been exhausting, but was at least preferable to most other Restoration-era jobs, which tended to involve either dying of the plague or getting set on fire.

Dryden wasn’t just a writer; he was also one of the first serious literary critics. His Of Dramatick Poesie: An Essay (1668) was a groundbreaking work that more or less invented modern dramatic criticism. He combined historical analysis, close reading, and evaluation in a way that no one had done before, making him the godfather of the book review—though one suspects he would have found Goodreads a bit beneath him.

Never one to leave a literary challenge unmet, Dryden also translated some of the greatest works of antiquity. His translation of Virgil’s Aeneid remains one of the most admired in English literature, and he also tackled Homer, Ovid, Lucretius, and Horace. His translations were not always word-for-word faithful, but they were lively, elegant, and very readable—proof that even the most high-minded literary pursuits can be improved with a bit of poetic license.

So, the next time you read a scathing political satire, a clear and reasoned book review, or a gripping heroic play, spare a thought for John Dryden—who did it all first, did it brilliantly, and got paid in sherry for his trouble.

MUSIC AND ARTS Dryden had a deep appreciation for the arts, particularly theatre and music. He was contracted to produce three plays a year for the King’s Company and worked closely with the composer Henry Purcell on the opera King Arthur (1691). His ability to blend poetic verse with dramatic storytelling helped shape English opera and theatre.

LITERATURE Dryden developed a passion for critical analysis of literature, as evidenced by his work Of Dramatick Poesie: An Essay (1668) and his numerous prefaces to plays and translations

NATURE Unlike some poets of his era, Dryden did not frequently write about nature in a Romantic sense. However, he did use natural imagery to enhance his political and philosophical themes, often referencing storms, animals, and landscapes metaphorically in his poetry.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Dryden was primarily a man of letters, and his main "sport" was intellectual debate. He spent much of his time writing, attending the theatre, and engaging in discussions with other literary figures. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he was not known for engaging in physical sports or hunting.

SCIENCE AND MATHS While not a scientist himself, Dryden was interested in the ideas of the time, particularly those of the emerging Enlightenment. His works occasionally referenced scientific concepts, and he admired thinkers such as Sir Francis Bacon. His translations of classical works, including Virgil’s Aeneid, showcased his analytical abilities and respect for structured thought.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY John Dryden's religious beliefs shifted over time, often aligning with political changes. When James II, a Catholic, ascended the English throne in 1685, Dryden converted to Catholicism, likely as a move of political expediency. He defended his conversion in his allegorical poem The Hind and the Panther (1687), which portrayed Catholicism as a noble and persecuted white hind. However, after James II was deposed in 1688, Dryden refused to renounce his new faith, even at great personal cost.

POLITICS Dryden’s career was closely tied to the shifting political landscape of Restoration England. Initially a supporter of Charles II, he became Poet Laureate in 1668. However, his fortunes changed when William of Orange deposed James II in 1688. As a Catholic, Dryden lost his prestigious position and government patronage, leaving him financially vulnerable in his later years.

SCANDAL Dryden’s sharp wit and biting satire earned him both admiration and enemies. His satirical poem "Absalom and Achitophel" (1681) attacked political figures of the time, including the Earl of Shaftesbury. He was even physically attacked in 1679 by hired thugs, likely due to his satirical writings. 

His marriage to Lady Elizabeth Howard was also rumored to be troubled, with whispers of infidelity on both sides, though they remained together until his death.

MILITARY RECORD Dryden's battles were waged with words rather than weapons, particularly through his poetry and plays, which often carried strong political and ideological messages.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Dryden suffered from gout in his later years, a common affliction among men of his time, particularly those who enjoyed rich food and drink. Despite this, he continued writing until his death.

HOMES Dryden spent much of his life in London, where he was deeply involved in the literary and theatrical scene. He lived in Gerrard Street, Soho, for several years. His birthplace was Aldwincle, Northamptonshire, and he maintained connections to the countryside throughout his life.

TRAVEL Unlike some of his contemporaries, Dryden did not travel extensively. His literary career and commitments in London kept him mostly within England. However, he was well-versed in foreign literature, particularly Latin classics, which he translated into English.

DEATH John Dryden died on May 1, 1700, at the age of 68. His death was likely due to complications from gout, which had caused him severe pain in his later years. 

A planned funeral procession to Westminster Abbey was disrupted by a group of drunk aristocratic young men led by Judge Jeffreys' son. They hijacked Dryden's body, claiming they would arrange a better funeral. The body was taken to an undertaker in Cheapside and left there for about three weeks as Jeffreys lost interest in his grand funeral plans. (1)

On May 13, 1700, Dryden's body was exhumed and reburied in Westminster Abbey. This second funeral was a grand affair, with over 100 coaches of nobility and gentry in attendance. Dryden was laid to rest in Chaucer's grave in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.

Image by ChatGBT

A monument to Dryden, consisting of a white marble bust by sculptor Peter Scheemakers, was erected in Westminster Abbey in 1720 by the Duke of Buckingham. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA John Dryden has popped up in various forms across literature, television, and even theater over the years. Given his status as one of England’s greatest poets and playwrights, it's surprising he hasn’t been the subject of a major biopic—though, considering how Restoration wigs looked, perhaps it's for the best.

1. Literature Dryden’s influence is more often felt in literature than in direct depictions. His work was admired (and sometimes stolen) by later poets, including Alexander Pope, who built much of his satirical style on Dryden’s foundations. Samuel Johnson, in his Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, praised Dryden’s mastery of verse and literary criticism, calling him “the father of English criticism.”

For a more playful literary reference, Dryden makes a cameo in Neal Stephenson’s The Baroque Cycle, a historical fiction trilogy set in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The books blend real historical figures with fictional ones, and Dryden appears as the aging literary giant he was by the late 1600s.

2. Television & Film Despite his immense influence, Dryden has rarely been dramatized on screen. Given the Restoration period’s sheer drama—political intrigue, court scandals, duels, and high-stakes poetry battles—you’d think he’d be a prime candidate for an HBO drama. Alas, Dryden’s appearances have been mostly academic rather than cinematic.

However, if you dig deep, you’ll find some TV references:

BBC Period Dramas – Dryden’s plays occasionally pop up in BBC adaptations of Restoration-era dramas, though he himself tends to stay in the background while flashier figures like Charles II or Samuel Pepys take center stage.

Documentaries – He has been featured in various literary history documentaries, usually as part of discussions on Restoration literature, satire, or the evolution of English drama.

3. Theater Since Dryden was primarily a playwright, his legacy endures most strongly in the theater. His plays, especially All for Love (his reworking of Antony and Cleopatra), still get staged from time to time, often in academic settings or as part of historical retrospectives on Restoration drama.

4. Quotations Galore – Dryden’s witticisms are quoted all over the place, from literary essays to political speeches. His line “Beware the fury of a patient man” from Absalom and Achitophel has been used in everything from political commentary to crime thrillers.

5. A Crater on Mercury – Yes, believe it or not, Dryden has a crater named after him on Mercury. This is NASA’s way of saying, “You were a big deal, even if Hollywood ignores you.”

ACHIEVEMENTS Became England’s first official Poet Laureate in 1668.

Was one of the most influential literary figures of the Restoration era.

Wrote Absalom and Achitophel (1681), a defining political satire.

Despite political setbacks, continued writing until his death, leaving behind a legacy that shaped English poetry and drama.

Source (1) London Ghosts