Addison, Joseph

Addison, Joseph one of the most eminent of British writers, was the son of Dean Addison, and was born at Milston, May 1, 1672. He was educated at the Charter House and at the colleges of Queen's and Magdalen at Oxford. Of his contributions to general literature we do not speak. In the course of his writings in the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian, appeared a series of papers, afterward collected, and often reprinted, under the title of "Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion." In his latter years he projected a paraphrastical version of the Psalms of David, of which he gave a beautiful specimen in his metrical translation of Psalm 23: "The Lord my pasture shall prepare," etc. But a long illness prevented the completion of this design. Addison died at Holland House, Kensington, June 17th, 1719. During his lingering decay he sent for a young nobleman of very irregular life and of loose opinions to attend him; and when the latter, with great tenderness, requested to receive his last injunctions, Mr. Addison told him, "I have sent for you that you may see how a Christian can die." The best edition of his Whole Works is that of Bishop Hurd (Lend. 1711, 6 vols. 8vo). — Jones, Chr. Biog. p. 5.