NationMaster - Encyclopedia: John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (April 1, 1647–July 26, 1680) was an English libertine, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. Image File history File links John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, detail of portrait NPG 804 at National Portrait Gallery. ... The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in St Martins Place, London, England, which opened to the public in 1856. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1647 (MDCXLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() â€“ on the European continent() â€“ in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy - Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events First Portuguese governor was appointed to Macau The Swedish city Karlskrona was founded as the Royal Swedish Navy relocated there. ... Map sources for Woodstock at grid reference SP4416 Woodstock is a small town in Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() â€“ on the European continent() â€“ in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy - Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... A writer is anyone who creates a written work, although the word more usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... 1867 edition of the satirical magazine Punch, a British satirical magazine, ground-breaking on popular literature satire. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is just a definition; Wiktionary already has it If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, a making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ... John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (April 1, 1647 - July 26, 1680) was an English nobleman, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1647 (MDCXLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events First Portuguese governor was appointed to Macau The Swedish city Karlskrona was founded as the Royal Swedish Navy relocated there. ... Libertine has come to mean one free from restraint, particularly from social and religious norms and morals. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 â€“ 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... 1867 edition of the satirical magazine Punch, a British satirical magazine, ground-breaking on popular literature satire. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is just a definition; Wiktionary already has it If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, a making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ...

He was the toast of the Restoration court and a patron of the arts. He married an heiress, Elizabeth Malet, but had many mistresses, including the actress Elizabeth Barry. King Charles II, the first monarch to rule after the English Restoration. ... Elizabeth Wilmot, Countess of Rochester (1651 - 20 August 1681) was born Elizabeth Malet[1] the daughter of John Malet of Enmore Castle and Unton Hawley. ... Elizabeth Barry changed like Nature which she represents, from Passion to Passion, from Extream to Extream, with piercing Force and with easy Grace. Elizabeth Barry (1658–November 7, 1713) was an English actress. ...

Life

Rochester was born in Ditchley, Oxfordshire. His mother Anne St. John, Countess of Rochester was a Parliamentarian by descent and inclined to Puritanism. His father Henry Wilmot, a hard-drinking Royalist from Anglo-Irish stock, had been named Earl of Rochester in 1652 for military services to Charles II during his exile under the Commonwealth; he died abroad in 1658, two years before the restoration of the monarchy in England. Ditchley (Ditchley Park or Ditchley House) is an Oxfordshire stately home designed by James Gibbs and built by in 1722 for the George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, a member of the Lee family. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Anne St. ... The Roundheads was the nickname given to the supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. ... The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ... Wilmots family was descended from Edward Wilmot of Witney, Oxfordshire, whose son Charles, 1st Viscount Wilmot of Athlone, (1570/71â€“1644) had served with distinction in Ireland. ... Prince Rupert of the Rhine Cavaliers was the name used by Parliamentarians for the Royalist supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642â€“1651). ... The title Earl of Rochester was created twice in the Peerage of England. ... Motto: PAX QUÃ†RITUR BELLO (English: Peace is sought through war) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Language(s) English Government Republic Lord Protector - 1649-1658 Oliver Cromwell Legislature Rump Parliament Barebones Parliament History - Declaration of Commonwealth May 19, 1649 - Declaration of Breda April 4, 1660 Area 130,395...

At age twelve, Rochester matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford, and there, it is said, "grew debauched".^[1] At fourteen he was conferred with the degree of M.A. by Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, who was Chancellor to the University and Rochester's uncle. After carrying out a Grand Tour of France and Italy, Rochester returned to London, where he graced the Restoration court. Later, his courage in a sea-battle against the Dutch made him a hero. College name Wadham College Named after Nicholas Wadham Established 1610 Sister College Christs College Warden Sir Neil Chalmers JCR President Ben Jasper Undergraduates 460 MCR President David Patrikarakos Graduates 180 Homepage Boatclub Wadham College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England, located at the southern... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (18 February 1609â€“9 December 1674) was an English historian, statesman and grandfather of two queens regnant, Mary II and Anne. ... A Chancellor is the head of a university. ... The interior of the Pantheon in the 18th century, painted by Giovanni Paolo Panini In the 18th century, the Grand Tour was a kind of education for wealthy British noblemen, wherein the primary educational value was exposure to the cultured artifacts of antiquity and the Renaissance as well as the... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... King Charles II, the first monarch to rule after the English Restoration. ... Combatants Dutch Republic (supported by Norwegian fortress) England Commanders Dutch: Pieter de Bitter Norwegian: Claus von Ahlefeldt Sir Thomas Teddiman Casualties 100 Dutch casualties, 8 Norwegian casualties, 10 civilians 500 The Battle of VÃ¥gen was a naval battle between a Dutch merchant fleet and an English fleet of warships...

In 1667 he married Elizabeth Malet, a witty heiress whom he had attempted to abduct two years earlier. Samuel Pepys describes the event in his diary for 28 May 1665: Samuel Pepys, FRS (23 February 1633 â€“ 26 May 1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, who is now most famous for his diary. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1665 (MDCLXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Rochester's life was divided between domesticity in the country and a riotous existence at court, where he was renowned for drunkenness, vivacious conversation, and "extravagant frolics" as part of the Merry Gang^[3] (as Andrew Marvell called them). The Merry Gang flourished for about fifteen years after 1665 and included Henry Jermyn; Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset; John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave; Henry Killigrew; Sir Charles Sedley; the playwrights William Wycherley and George Etherege; and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Much of Rochester's poetry suggests that he was bisexual. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Henry Jermyn may refer to either of two related courtiers to the House of Stuart: Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans KG (c. ... Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset (24 January 1638 â€“ 29 January 1706) was an English poet and courtier, son of Richard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorset (1622â€“1677). ... John Sheffield was the 1st Duke of BuckinghamSHIRE not the 1st Duke of Buckingham. ... Dr Henry Killigrew (1613-1700) was the son of Robert Killigrew and the younger brother of the dramatist Thomas Killigrew. ... Sir Charles Sedley (c. ... William Wycherley in 1675. ... Sir George Etherege (1635? - c. ... The titles Marquess and Duke of Buckingham, named after Buckingham, have been created several times in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. ... Bisexuality is a sexual orientation which refers to the romantic and/or sexual attraction of individuals to other individuals of both their own and the opposite gender or sex. ...

In 1674, Rochester wrote A Satyr on Charles II, which criticised the King for being obsessed with sex at the expense of his kingdom. Instead of handing a poem Charles requested, Rochester handed him this libel. Consequently, Rochester fled from the court. In hiding, Rochester set up as "Doctor Bendo", a quack physician skilled in treating 'barrenness' (infertility). His practice was, it is said,^{[citation needed]} 'not without success,' implying his intercession of himself as surreptitious sperm donor. He was involved with the theatre and was the model for the witty, poetry-reciting rake Dorimant in Etherege's The Man of Mode (1676). According to an often repeated anecdote, his coaching of his mistress Elizabeth Barry began her career as the greatest actress of the Restoration stage. Sir George Etherege (1635? - c. ... Elizabeth Barry changed like Nature which she represents, from Passion to Passion, from Extream to Extream, with piercing Force and with easy Grace. Elizabeth Barry (1658–November 7, 1713) was an English actress. ...

By the age of thirty-three Rochester was dying, presumably from syphilis, other venereal diseases, and the effects of alcoholism. He famously^{[citation needed]} attended Parliament at a late stage of illness, his rotting nose concealed beneath a silver nosepiece and his facial gummata beneath pancake makeup. His mother had him attended in his final weeks by her religious associates, particularly Gilbert Burnet, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury. A deathbed renunciation of atheism was published and promulgated as the conversion of a prodigal. This became legendary, reappearing in numerous pious tracts over the next two centuries. This story is however suspect because the publisher of this "conversion" was Burnet, who had often criticised Rochester during his life and may have used a false conversion to further his own goals. Rochester was later buried at Spelsbury Church in Spelsbury, Oxfordshire. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum. ... A gumma is a soft, non-cancerous growth resulting from the tertiary stage of syphilis. ... Gilbert Burnet (September 18, 1643-March 17, 1715) was a Scottish divine and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. ... Arms of the Bishop of Salisbury The Bishop of Salisbury is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. ... â€œAtheistâ€ redirects here. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ...

Works

Because his interest in poetry was not professional, Rochester's poetic work varies widely in form, genre, and content. He was part of a "mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease",^[4] who continued to produce their poetry in manuscripts, rather than in publication. As a consequence, some of Rochester's work deals with topical concerns, such as satires of courtly affairs in libels, to parodies of the styles of his contemporaries, such as Sir Charles Scroope. He is also notable for his impromptus, one of which is a teasing epigram of King Charles II: Libel is a verse genre primarily of the Renaissance, descended from the tradition of invective in classical Greek and Roman poetry. ... In contemporary usage, parody is a form of satire that imitates another work of art in order to ridicule it. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 â€“ 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ...

His poetry displays a wide range of learning, and a wide range of influences. These included imitations of Malherbe, Ronsard, and Boileau. Rochester also translated or adapted from classical authors such as Petronius, Lucretius, Ovid, Anacreon, Horace, and Seneca. François de Malherbe François de Malherbe (1555 - October 16, 1628) was a French poet, critic and translator. ... Pierre de Ronsard, commonly referred to as Ronsard (September 11, 1524 - December, 1585), was a French poet and prince of poets (as his own generation in France called him). ... Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, commonly called Boileau, (November 1, 1636 - March 13, 1711) was a French poet and critic. ... This article is about the Roman author Petronius. ... Lucretius Titus Lucretius Carus (c. ... For other uses, see Ovid (disambiguation) Publius Ovidius Naso (March 20, 43 BC â€“ 17 AD) was a Roman poet known to the English-speaking world as Ovid who wrote on topics of love, abandoned women and mythological transformations. ... Anacreon roman copy , Rome in Palazzo dei Conservatori Anacreon (also Anakreon) (born ca. ... Horace, as imagined by Anton von Werner Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (December 8, 65 BC - November 27, 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. ... Seneca may refer to: Roman figures (any links to Seneca in Roman pages should be relinked to one of these two) Marcus (or Lucius) Annaeus Seneca also called rhetor, Roman orator and father of Seneca the philosopher and dramatist. ...

Rochester's writings were at once admired and infamous. A Satyr Against Mankind (1675), one of the few poems he published (in a broadside in 1679) is a scathing denunciation of rationalism and optimism that contrasts human perfidy with animal wisdom.

The majority of his poetry was not published under his name until after his death. Before his death, Burnet claimed Wilmot experienced a religious conversion recanting his past, and ordering “all his profane and lewd writings” burned, though this story is highly suspect given the rivalry between the two. It is possible that Burnet used this "conversion" to suppress Wilmot's anti-religious work.

Rochester was also interested in the theatre. In addition to an interest in the actresses, he wrote an adaptation of Fletcher's Valentinian (1685), a scene for Sir Robert Howard's The Conquest of China, a prologue to Elkanah Settle's The Empress of Morocco (1673), and epilogues to Sir Francis Fane's Love in the Dark (1675), Charles Davenant's Circe, a Tragedy (1677). Elizabeth Barry changed like Nature which she represents, from Passion to Passion, from Extream to Extream, with piercing Force and with easy Grace. Elizabeth Barry (1658–November 7, 1713) was an English actress. ... John Fletcher (1579-1625) was a Jacobean playwright. ... Valentinian is a Jacobean era stage play, a revenge tragedy written by John Fletcher was that originally published in the first Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1647. ... Sir Robert Howard (January, 1626 - 3 September 1698) was an English playwright and politician, born to Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire and his wife Elizabeth. ... Elkanah Settle (January 1, 1648 - February 12, 1724), was an English poet and playwright. ... Charles Davenant (1656-1714), English economist, eldest son of Sir William Davenant, the poet, was born in London. ...

The best-known dramatic work attributed to Rochester, Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery, has never been successfully proven to be written by him. However, supposed posthumous printings of Sodom gave rise to prosecutions for obscenity, and were destroyed. On 16 December 2004 one of the few surviving copies of Sodom was sold by Sotheby's for £45,600.^{[citation needed]} The play Sodom is not known definitively to be the work of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester. ... Obscenity in Latin obscenus, meaning foul, repulsive, detestable, (possibly derived from ob caenum, literally from filth). The term is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions (words, images, actions) that offend the prevalent sexual morality of the time. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sothebys (NYSE: BID) is the worlds second oldest international auction house in continuous operation. ...

Criticism and influence

Rochester has not lacked distinguished admirers. His contemporary Aphra Behn lauded him in verse and also based several rakish characters in her plays on Rochester. Anne Wharton wrote an elegy marking Rochester's death, which in itself became a poem praised by contemporary poets.^[5] Horace Walpole described him as "a man whom the muses were fond to inspire but ashamed to avow".^[6] Daniel Defoe quoted him in Moll Flanders,^[7] and discussed Rochester in other works. Tennyson would recite from him with fervour.^{[citation needed]} Voltaire, who spoke of Rochester as "the man of genius, the great poet", admired Rochester's satire for "energy and fire" and translated some lines into French to "display the shining imagination his lordship only could boast."^[8] Goethe quoted A Satire against Reason and Mankind in English in his Autobiography.^[9] William Hazlitt commented that Rochester's "verses cut and sparkle like diamonds"^[10] while his "epigrams were the bitterest, the least laboured, and the truest, that ever were written".^[11] Referring to Rochester's perspective, Hazlitt wrote that "his contempt for everything that others respect almost amounts to sublimity."^[11] A sketch of Aphra Behn by George Scharf from a portrait believed to be lost. ... This article is considered orphaned, since there are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, more commonly known as Horace Walpole, (September 24, 1717 â€“ March 2, 1797), was a politician, writer and forerunner of the Gothic revival. ... Daniel Defoe (1659/1661 [?] â€“ April 24 [?], 1731)[1] was an English writer, journalist, and spy, who gained enduring fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. ... The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders is a 1722 novel by Daniel Defoe. ... Alfred, Lord Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 â€“ 6 October 1892) was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and is one of the most popular English poets. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Johann Wolfgang Goethe , IPA: , later von Goethe, (28 August 1749 â€“ 22 March 1832) was a German polymath: he was a poet, novelist, dramatist, humanist, scientist, theorist, painter, and for ten years chief minister of state for the duchy of Weimar. ... William Hazlitt (10 April 1778 â€“ 18 September 1830) was an English writer remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism, often esteemed the greatest English literary critic after Samuel Johnson. ...

In drama and film

The witty amoral nobleman Dorimant in Rochester's friend George Etherege's Restoration Comedy The Man of Mode is based on the Earl. Sir George Etherege (1635? - c. ... Refinement meets burlesque in Restoration comedy. ...

Two plays have been directly written about Rochester's life. Stephen Jeffreys wrote The Libertine in 1994; it was staged by the Royal Court Theatre. Craig Baxter wrote The Ministry of Pleasure, which was produced at the Latchmere Theatre in London, in 2004. The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, in the Chelsea area of London noted for its contributions to modern theatre. ...

The film The Libertine, based on Jeffreys's play, was shown at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival and was released in the UK on November 25, 2005. While taking some artistic liberties, it chronicles Rochester's life, with Johnny Depp as Rochester, Samantha Morton as Elizabeth Barry, John Malkovich as King Charles II, and Rosamund Pike as Elizabeth Malet. The Libertine is a movie that was released in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2005, and on March 10, 2006 in the United States. ... The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. ... The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is generally considered to be one of the five top film festivals in the world. ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, producer and director. ... Pike is the only child of Caroline and Julian Pike, both musical performers. ...

A fictionalised version of Rochester appears in the film Plunkett & Macleane [1]
It has also been suggested^{[citation needed]} that the libertine character in Aphra Behn's The Rover, Willmore, is based on John Wilmot. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Plunkett and MacLeane. ...

Notes

Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1665 (MDCLXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works. ... Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works. ... Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works. ...

Contents

Life

Works

Criticism and influence

In drama and film

Notes

Further reading

External links

Contents

Life GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Works

Criticism and influence

In drama and film

Notes

Further reading

External links

Life