Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson, born on 11 June 1572, was an English dramatist, poet, and literary critic. After completing his formal education, he joined his stepfather’s business, but left it to pursue a career in writing. By 1597, he was writing plays for Philip Henslowe. Jonson became a name to reckon with in 1598, when his play Every Man in His Humour was successfully presented by the Lord Chamberlain’s theatrical company. Known for his literary craftsmanship and his fine artistic ability, Jonson’s direct influence is discernible in each genre he explored. Every Man in His Humour (1598), Volpone (1605), Epicoene; or, The Silent Woman (1609), and Bartholomew Fair (1614) are amongst his most notable plays. Remembered as the second most important English dramatist after William Shakespeare, Jonson died aged 65 on 6 August 1637.
