John Milton, who was born in London on 9 December 1608 and died in 1674, was an English poet, and intellectual who served as a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell.
He is best known for “Paradise Lost”, widely regarded as the greatest epic poem in English.
He wrote in English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, achieving international reputation.
In 1652 Milton become blind, probably from glaucoma, and was forced to dictate his works to his family, friends and amanuenses. He had also to resign active political life.
One of his best-known sonnets, “On His Blindness”, is presumed to date from this period.
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