BiographyThe stages of Milton's life closely parallel the major historical divisions of Stuart Britain - the ancien régime Caroline, the Commonwealth of England and the Restoration - and it is important to historically situate his poetry and his politics in order to see how both derive from the philosophical and religious beliefs developed by Milton during the English Revolution.[2] By his death in 1674, blind, impoverished, and yet unrepentant for his political choices, Milton had achieved European notoriety for his radical political and religious beliefs. Especially after the Glorious Revolution, Paradise Lost and his political writings would bring him lasting fame as the greatest poet of the sublime and a pure champion of freedom. Family Life and Childhood John Milton's father, also called John Milton (1562-1647), moved to London around 1583 after being disinherited by his devout Catholic father, Richard Milton, for embracing Protestantism. In London, Milton senior married Sarah Jeffrey (1572–1637), the poet's mother, and found lasting financial success as a scribe (a profession that combined the functions of lawyer, estate agent, notary, and moneylender), where he lived and worked. from a house on Bread Street[3] in Cheapside. The elder Milton was known for his skill as a musical composer, and this talent left Milton with an appreciation for music and friendships with musicians such as Henry Lawes.[4]After Milton's birth on December 9, 1608, prosperity of his father provided his eldest son with private tuition and a place at St Paul's School in London, where he began the study of Latin and Greek which would leave such an imprint on his poetry. The novice poet, whose earliest datable compositions are two psalms performed at the age of 15 at Long Bennington, was notable for his work ethic: "When he was young," recalls Christopher, his younger brother, "he studied hard hard and stayed up late." , commonly until midnight or 1 a.m.." Milton was born in Bread Street, the same street where the Mermaid Tavern was located, where legend has it that Ben Jonson and other poets often caroused. Cambridge years John Milton he enrolled at Christ's College, Cambridge in 1625 and, in preparation to become an Anglican priest, stayed to gain his Master of Arts on 3 July 1632. At Cambridge Milton befriended the Anglo-American dissident and theologian Roger Williams Milton taught Williams l 'Hebrew in exchange for Dutch lessons.[5] Although he developed a reputation for poetic ability and general erudition at Cambridge, Milton experienced alienation from his peers and from university life as a whole..