Jonathan Swift
Born 1667 · Age 358
Anglo-Irish writer, satirist and Anglican cleric; Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; author of Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal.
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Life & Career Timeline
Father dies before his birth
His father (Jonathan Swift, elder) died about seven months before Jonathan's birth (reported cause: syphilis); left family in reduced circumstances.
Born in Dublin
Jonathan Swift born in Dublin, Kingdom of Ireland, second child and only son of Jonathan Swift (elder) and Abigail Erick.
Taken to Whitehaven by wet nurse
At about one year old Swift was taken by his wet nurse to her hometown of Whitehaven, Cumberland, where he later said he learned to read the Bible.
Returned to his mother in Ireland
His wet nurse returned him to his mother in Ireland when he was about three years old.
Sent to Kilkenny College
Placed by his uncle Godwin Swift at Kilkenny College (one of the finest schools in Ireland) to begin his formal education.
Graduated Kilkenny College
Completed studies at Kilkenny College; left for university the same year.
Entered Trinity College, Dublin
Matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin; four-year course in a curriculum dominated by Aristotelian logic and classical learning.
Awarded B.A. from Trinity College Dublin
Received his Bachelor of Arts degree in February 1686 'by special grace'.
Left Ireland during Glorious Revolution
Political unrest in Ireland following the Glorious Revolution forced Swift to leave for England.
Became secretary to Sir William Temple at Moor Park
Through his mother's help Swift obtained a post as secretary and personal assistant to diplomat Sir William Temple at Moor Park, Farnham; began a decade-long intermittent association.
First known poem published ('Ode to the Athenian Society')
Swift's first publication, an 'Ode to the Athenian Society', printed in The Athenian Mercury (Feb 14, 1691).
M.A. from Hart Hall, Oxford
Received his Master of Arts degree from Hart Hall (Oxford) in 1692 while in Temple's service.
Appointed prebend of Kilroot (Church appointment)
Appointed to the prebend of Kilroot in the Diocese of Connor; took up parish near Carrickfergus.
Ordained priest and became vicar of Kilroot (Jan 1695)
Took holy orders in the Established Church of Ireland and was appointed vicar of Kilroot.
Returned to Moor Park from Kilroot
Left the isolated Kilroot living (possibly after a failed romantic attachment) and returned to Moor Park to rejoin Sir William Temple's household.
Composed portions of 'A Tale of a Tub' at Moor Park (c.1696–1699)
Much of 'A Tale of a Tub' was composed during his periods at Moor Park while assisting Temple; the work satirises excesses in religion and learning.
Composed 'The Battle of the Books' (circa 1697)
Wrote 'The Battle of the Books' in response to the Ancients vs. Moderns quarrel (composed c.1697; published 1704).
Completed editing Temple's memoirs; returned to Ireland
Finished the work of preparing Temple's memoirs and correspondence; disputes with Temple's family later arose over Swift's edition.
Death of Sir William Temple (Jan 27, 1699)
Sir William Temple, Swift's patron and mentor, died; Swift edited Temple's memoirs thereafter.
Moved to Trim, County Meath
Took up residence at Trim, County Meath; many of his major works were later written while residing there.
Published 'A Discourse on the Contests and Dissentions in Athens and Rome' (anon.)
Anonymously issued a political pamphlet defending English constitutional balances; part of his early political writings.
Travel to England and return with 'Stella' and companion
Traveled to England in spring 1702 and returned to Ireland in October 1702 accompanied by Esther Johnson ('Stella') and Rebecca Dingley.
Awarded Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) from Trinity College, Dublin (Feb 1702)
Received the D.D. degree from Trinity College, Dublin in February 1702.
Publication of 'A Tale of a Tub' and 'The Battle of the Books' (1704)
Two of Swift's early major prose satires appeared anonymously in 1704, boosting his reputation and causing controversy in clerical and literary circles.
Adopted pseudonyms for publication (e.g., Isaac Bickerstaff)
Swift extensively used pseudonyms (Isaac Bickerstaff, Lemuel Gulliver, M. B. Drapier) and anonymity to publish political and satirical works—protecting himself in politically sensitive contexts.
Isaac Bickerstaff/Partridge hoax (1708)
Using the persona Isaac Bickerstaff, Swift mocked astrologer John Partridge by predicting his death for 29 March 1708 and publishing follow-ups claiming he had died (pamphlet issued 30 March).
Published third volume of Temple's memoirs (1709)
Issued the third volume of Sir William Temple's memoirs (1709), which provoked objections from Temple's sister and others.
Wrote Journal to Stella (letters 1710–1713)
Composed a long series of private letters to Esther Johnson (and Rebecca Dingley) during his 1710–1713 stay in London; these were posthumously collected as Journal to Stella.
Became editor of The Examiner (Oct 1710)
Recruitment by the Tory administration; Swift took over the Tory journal The Examiner and acted as a chief pamphleteer for the Tories.
Stepped down as editor of The Examiner (Jun 14, 1711)
Swift edited The Examiner until mid-June 1711 as the Tory political campaign continued.
Published 'The Conduct of the Allies' (Nov 27, 1711)
Pamphlet attacking the Whig government for its handling of the war with France and supporting the Tory peace drive; influential in Tory policy debates.
Published 'An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity' (c.1712)
A satirical work engaging with free-thinking scepticism and religious controversies of the day (dates often given circa 1708–11/1712).
Founding/association with the Martinus Scriblerus Club (1713)
Close friendships with Alexander Pope, John Gay and John Arbuthnot formed the core of the Martinus Scriblerus Club around 1713.
Composed 'Cadenus and Vanessa' (c.1713)
Poem inspired by his relationship with Esther Vanhomrigh ('Vanessa') dates from around 1713.
Appointed Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
In April 1713 Swift was appointed Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, a post he held for the rest of his life and which earned him the sobriquet 'Dean Swift'.
Esther Vanhomrigh ('Vanessa') moves to Ireland (1714)
Esther Vanhomrigh followed Swift to Ireland and settled at Celbridge Abbey in 1714; their uneasy relationship continued.
Rumoured secret marriage to Esther Johnson ('Stella') (1716)
Many contemporaries (e.g., Thomas Sheridan) later claimed Swift and Stella were secretly married in 1716; this remains controversial and unproven.
Published 'Proposal for Universal Use of Irish Manufacture' (1720)
Produced pamphlets advocating Irish manufacture and economic interests; turned increasingly toward Irish causes.
Printer Edward Waters convicted of seditious libel (1720)
Swift's printer (Edward Waters) was convicted of seditious libel in 1720 in connection with some of Swift's political writings.
Death of Esther Vanhomrigh ('Vanessa') (1723)
Esther Vanhomrigh died in 1723 at age 35 after having destroyed the will she had made in Swift's favour.
Government attempted to prosecute publisher of Drapier's Letters
An unsuccessful attempt was made to prosecute John Harding for publishing Drapier's Letters; the letters had undermined public support for Wood's coinage.
Government offered reward to reveal author of Drapier's Letters (1724–25)
Because Drapier's Letters undermined support for Wood's coinage, a government reward was offered for disclosure of the pamphleteer's identity (widely understood to be Swift).
Published 'Drapier's Letters' (1724)
A series of pamphlets (under the pseudonym M. B. Drapier) attacking William Wood's patent to mint copper coinage for Ireland; these made Swift a popular Irish patriot.
William Wood's patent rescinded (Sept 1725)
Following popular outcry stoked by Drapier's Letters, Wood's patent to coin copper money for Ireland was rescinded and the coinage kept out of circulation.
Wrote material for Gulliver's Travels at Woodbrook House, County Laois
Large portions of Gulliver's Travels were composed at Woodbrook House in County Laois prior to its 1726 publication.
Took manuscript of Gulliver's Travels to London (1726)
Paid a long-deferred visit to London carrying his Gulliver's Travels manuscript; stayed with friends Alexander Pope, John Arbuthnot and John Gay to arrange anonymous publication.
Gulliver's Travels achieves multiple printings and rapid popularity
Gulliver's Travels saw three printings in 1726 and another in early 1727; the book became his best-known work and popularised 'Lilliput'.
Publication of Gulliver's Travels (Nov 1726)
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, by Lemuel Gulliver (Gulliver's Travels) was anonymously published in November 1726 to immediate success (three printings that year).
Translations and further printings of Gulliver's Travels (1727)
French, German and Dutch translations appeared in 1727 and additional printings and piracies (including in Ireland) followed.
Returned to England (1727) and rushed back on news of Stella's illness
Swift visited Alexander Pope in England in 1727 but hurried back to Ireland when told Esther Johnson ('Stella') was dying.
Death of Esther Johnson ('Stella') (Jan 28, 1728)
Esther Johnson died on 28 January 1728; Swift prayed at her bedside, began writing 'The Death of Mrs Johnson' (he was too ill to attend the funeral).
Published 'A Modest Proposal' (1729)
Issued his famous satirical essay 'A Modest Proposal' in Dublin (published by Sarah Harding), which suggested satirically that the poor sell their children as food to the rich.
Wrote 'Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift' (1731)
Composed his own obituary-poem 'Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift' in 1731 (a self-obituary); it was printed later (some material published 1739).
Death of close friend John Gay (1732)
John Gay, a close friend and collaborator, died in 1732; Swift's circle of friends began to diminish in the 1730s.
Death of John Arbuthnot (1735)
John Arbuthnot, another of Swift's long-time friends and Scriblerus circle, died in 1735.
Collected edition of Swift's Works (title page depicts Dean's chair) (1735)
A collected edition of Swift's works (often cited with a 1735 title page) circulated; his public profile continued strongly in the 1730s.
Began to show signs of serious illness/dementia (circa 1738)
Contemporaries record the start (c.1738) of Swift's cognitive and physical decline (symptoms later described as 'madness' or dementia).
Guardians appointed for his affairs (1741)
Guardians were formally appointed to take care of Swift's affairs and protect him from exploiters as his mental state worsened.
Severe illness and stroke-like episodes (1742)
In 1742 Swift suffered severe health crises (possibly a stroke), including a painful inflammation of his left eye and periods of muteness lasting about a year.
Death of Alexander Pope (1744)
Alexander Pope, Swift's close friend, died in 1744; Swift lost yet another longtime confidant shortly before his own death.
Bequeathed bulk of fortune for hospital for mentally ill (£12,000)
Left the bulk of his estate (reported at £12,000) to found a hospital for the mentally ill (later St Patrick's Hospital for Imbeciles).
Death (Oct 19, 1745)
Jonathan Swift died in Dublin on 19 October 1745; he was laid out publicly and buried in St Patrick's Cathedral beside Esther Johnson as he requested.
Opening of St Patrick's Hospital (founded with Swift's bequest) (1757)
St Patrick's Hospital for Imbeciles (a psychiatric hospital) opened in 1757 using the funds Swift left in his will; the institution still exists.
Long-term legacy: 'Swiftian' satire and status as leading Georgian satirist
Since the late 18th century Swift has been widely regarded as the preeminent satirist of the Georgian era; 'Swiftian' becomes a term for mordant satire.
Key Achievement Ages
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