Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland, in November 30, 1667, the son of an Englishman, Jonathan Swift the elder, who settled in Ireland after his father lost his land fighting for the Royalists in the English Civil War. Just seven months before Swift’s birth, his father died suddenly and his mother was forced to return to England, leaving him to the care of his uncles. Fortunately, Swift’s uncles ensured he had a good education, and in 1686 he received his Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin. Interestingly, as a college graduate, Swift may have already shown signs of the satirist he would become: his degree was awarded speciali gratia, or “by special favor,” a term for...
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