The Spectator
by Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele, ed.
| The Spectator | ||
 at the College of William & Mary. |
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| Editor | Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele | |
| Edition | ? | |
Precise edition unknown.
Joseph Addison (1672-1719) was an English poet, dramatist, essayist, and statesman. Before distinguishing himself as a classical scholar at Oxford, he was classmates with Richard Steele at Charterhouse(1). Addison first rose to national prominence after publishing The Campaign (1704), an epic poem depicting the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at Blenheim (2). His literary success led to his selection as undersecretary of state in 1705 and subsequent appointment as secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1709 (1). He also obtained a seat in Parliament from Malmesbury in 1708 which he held until his death(2). Later, in 1717, Addison was chosen to serve as secretary of state, a post he resigned a year later in 1718 due to poor health (Ibid).
Although a prominent statesman, Addison is mostly remembered for his work as an essayist. In addition to cofounding the Spectator with Richard Steele in March of 1711, he also contributed to Steel’s publication, Tatler, as well as to the Guardian (1&2). He wrote in a simple, orderly, and precise manner in order to engage his readers and inspire reasonable thinking and debate (1). He achieved great success and fame during his lifetime and his publications are credited with raising the level of technical precision for English essayists (Ibid). Yet during the period from 1714 to his death in 1719, Addison quarreled with Richard Steele and was plagued by poor health and a unhappy marriage (Ibid).
Born in Dublin, Richard Steele (1672-1729) was an English playwright and essayist. After completing his studies alongside Joseph Addison at Charterhouse and later at Oxford, Steele began a career in the army in 1694 and obtained the rank of captain by 1701. After serving in army and in low level government positions, he founded his renowned periodical, the Tatler. He also cofounded the Spectator and wrote the Guardian and other minor periodicals. Although Steele differed from Addison in temperament, their shared political beliefs allowed them to form of one of the greatest literary partnerships in the English language. Steele lacked Addison’s technical prowess but wrote with a style that was charming, imaginative, and witty. Steele entered Parliament in 1713 as a member of the Whig. Only a year after taking his seat,
Steele was expelled from Parliament by his political rivals but returned in 1715 as a Hanoverian and was soon after knighted. After a political dispute in 1719 with Addison relating to the Peerage Bill, Steele attempted to reconcile the friendship but Addison died the same year. Forced to retire to Wales in 1724 due to increasing debt, Steele died in 1729 in relative obscurity.
