Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson, a prominent figure of the Elizabethan era, was a multifaceted talent as a poet, playwright, and essayist. His tumultuous life included a notorious duel in 1598 that resulted in the death of an actor, leading him to evade execution through a legal loophole. By 1616, Jonson had regained favor at Court, ultimately earning a pension from James I, which effectively recognized him as the first Poet Laureate. His legacy is marked by both his literary contributions and his complex personal history.