author
William Temple
1628–1699
Best known as a polished diplomat and essayist, he helped shape English foreign policy in the age of Charles II and later turned his country retirement into a center of writing and reflection.
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About the author
Born in London in 1628, Sir William Temple was an English diplomat, politician, and man of letters. He is especially remembered for his role in seventeenth-century European diplomacy, including work that supported closer relations with the Dutch, and for the elegance and clarity of his essays.
Temple served the English crown abroad and for a time became an important adviser to Charles II, though the relationship later cooled. After withdrawing from high politics, he spent much of his later life at Moor Park in Surrey, where he wrote on politics, literature, and the pleasures of country life.
He died in 1699. Temple also remains notable for his connection with Jonathan Swift, who worked in his household early in his career.