Milton was educated at St. Paul's School and Christ's College, Cambridge, receiving his MA in 1632. His first poem, On the Death of a Fair Infant, was published while he was still in college. After leaving school, Milton spent 5 years at home with his father publishing only a few works such as Lycidas (1637) and Arcades (1633). Over the next twenty years, most of Milton's works were sonnets. In 1657 he composed his masterpiece, Paradise Lost, which was published to much acclaim in 1663. After the execution of Charles I, Milton was appointed the Latin secretary to the Council of State, but lost the position at the Restoration and was arrested and fined. Milton published numerous works in Latin, the finest of which is Epitaphium Damonis (1639). His other works of note include a Latin Grammar (1669), History of Britain (1670), Paradise Regained (1671) and Samson Agonistes (1671). |