Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

John Denham Author

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: United Kingdom
  • Born: Jan 1, 1615
  • Died: Mar 19, 1669

Sir John Denham (1614 or 1615 - 19 March 1669) was an English poet and courtier. He served as Surveyor of the King's Works and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Denham was born in Dublin to Sir John Denham, judge and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and his second wife Eleanor. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford and at Lincoln's Inn in London.

In his earlier years Denham suffered for his Royalism; during the English Civil War, he was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey (for 1642) and governor of Farnham Castle.

Denham became a Member of Parliament for Old Sarum in 1661, became a Fellow of the Royal Society on 20 May 1663, and became a Knight of the Bath.

Poetry is of so subtle a spirit, that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate. poetry

Books should to one of these fours ends conduce, for wisdom, piety, delight, or use. wisdom