Gulliver's Travels [antikvár]

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Jonathan Swift was bom in Dublin in 1667, and at the age of six went to Kilkenny school, then the best in Ireland. At fourteen he was entered at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating B.A. four years later. In 1688 he became Secretary to Sir William Temple at Moor Park, and there came in touch with many prominent politicians and even with the King. His post, however, seemed to offer no prospect of advancement, and in 1694 he left Temple, and returning to Ireland entered Holy Orders and was presented to the Prebend of Kilroot in County Antrim. In 1696 he went back to Moor Park, and remained there till Temple's death in 1699. Later he was presented to the living of Laracor, near Trim, In 1701 he graduated D.D. at Dublin, and in 1704 published anonymously A TaU of a Tub with The Battle of the Books—xh^t former being a brilliant satire on Roman Catholics and on Calvinists. As a Tory pamphleteer he was of great service to the Government, but though he hoped for an English bishopric in reward, he was given only the Irish Deanery of St. Patrick. Feeling himself an exile, he lived in Ireland till his death, after four years of insanity, in 1745. Despite the disappointment of his hopes, he took up the cause of Ireland with vigour, and made himself the idol of the