author
Mr. (John) Oldmixon
1673–1742
A sharp-tongued English historian and political writer of the early 18th century, remembered for lively Whig histories and for picking famous literary fights. His books ranged from empire and European politics to church history, giving modern readers a vivid sense of the arguments of his age.
2 Audiobooks
Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Harley (1712) and The British Academy (1712)
by Mr. (John) Oldmixon, Arthur Maynwaring
An Essay on Criticism
by Mr. (John) Oldmixon
About the author
Born in Somerset in 1673, John Oldmixon was raised in western England and later became connected with Bristol’s trading world. He began his career with poetry and drama before turning to history and political writing, the work for which he is best known.
Oldmixon wrote energetically about Britain, Europe, and the American colonies. His books included The British Empire in America and multi-volume historical works on England and on the House of Stuart. He wrote from a strong Whig point of view, and that partisan edge made his histories spirited, controversial, and widely discussed.
He is also remembered for his quarrels with major literary figures of his time, including Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Oldmixon died on July 9, 1742, leaving behind a body of work that captures both the politics and the literary feuds of early 18th-century Britain.