John Donne was a 17th century English poet known for his metaphysical poetry. Born in 1572 to a Catholic family at a time of anti-Catholic sentiment in England, Donne attended but did not graduate from Oxford and Cambridge due to refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. He spent his youth womanizing and traveling before marrying Anne More against her family's wishes, which hurt his career. After Anne's death in 1617, Donne experienced great grief and wrote morbid poems. Though in declining health, he became an Anglican priest and likely would have become bishop if not for his death in 1631 at the age of 58.

1. (1572-1631)
“No Man Is an Island”

2.  No man is an island, entire of itself every
man is a piece of the continent, a part of the
main if a clod be washed away by the
sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a
promontory were, as well as if a manor of
thy friends or of thine own were any man's
death diminishes me, because I am
involved in mankind and therefore never
send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls
for thee. -- John Donne

3.  John Donne was a metaphysical poet who was
abstract and highly complex. Born in Bread
Street, London in 1572 to Roman Catholic
family during an time when anti-Catholic
sentiment was rife in England. John Donne
attend Oxford and Cambridge, but took no
degree at either university because he would
not take the Oath of Supremacy required at
graduation. He was admitted to study law.

4.  Having inherited a considerable fortune, young "Jack Donne"
spent his money on womanizing, on books, at the theatre, and on
travels. In 1596, Donne joined the naval expedition in which he
wrote many great works.
While in Queen Elizabeth's last parliament he married seventeen-
year-old Anne More. He basically committed career suicide. Just
as Donne's fortunes seemed to be improving, Anne Donne
died, on 15 August, 1617, aged thirty-three, after giving birth to
their twelfth child, a stillborn. Seven of their children survived
their mother's death. Struck by grief, Donne wrote morbid poems
and sonnets.
 In his ailing health, (he had mouth sores and had experienced
significant weight loss) Donne almost certainly would have
become a bishop in 1630. Obsessed with the idea of death, Donne
posed in a shroud - the painting was completed a few weeks
before his death, and later used to create an effigy. He also
preached what was called his own funeral sermon, “Death’s
Duel,” just a few weeks before he died in London on March
31, 1631.