born March 31, 1621, Winestead, Yorkshire, Eng.
died Aug. 18, 1678, London
English poet and politician.
He was employed as a tutor, including to John Milton in the foreign office in 1657. From 1659 he held a seat in Parliament. His reputation as one of the finest secular Metaphysical poets (see {{link=Metaphysical poetry">Metaphysical poetry ) is based on a small body of brilliant lyric verse, notably "To His Coy Mistress" (1681) and "The Garden." Among his other works are classical odes, such as "An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland" (1650); political verse satires opposing the government after the Restoration, such as Last Instructions to a Painter (1667); and prose satires.