Mil ‧ ton, John /ˈmɪlt ə n/ BrE AmE
(1608–74) an English poet, regarded as one of the most important writers in English literature, who is best known for his ↑ epic poem ↑ Paradise Lost . This was followed by Paradise Regained , and both poems were written after he had gone blind. Before this, he was active in politics as a strong supporter of religious freedom and of Oliver ↑ Cromwell .