Richard Overton was a writer who is best known for radical booklets that he created during the English revolution. He was born in the year 1599. He was of British origin. He lived to be 65 years old and passed away in the year 1664. Though his life was short his works left a legacy because through them he demonstrated courage.
Not much is known of this writers early life but he is believed to have enrolled at the Queens College in Cambridge. He was also a playwright and actor in Southwark. He was unknown for most part of his life until the year 1640. This is the year when his booklets began being circulated. At first his pamphlets which were satirical in nature were aimed at criticizing the Church of England. It is believed that Richard had converted to General Baptism religion through this period.
In one of his controversial documents he explained his theory on religion. The document was named Mans Mortalitie. In this theory he discussed his religious conviction which was widely criticized by Protestants from the Presbyterian Churches. They described it as heretical and wrong. Richard believed that both the soul and body of a human being are perishable and they die together. When the Last Judgement takes place both resurrect again. This belief was also shared by many of his friends in the religion of General Baptism.
During the year 1645 the writer started to become more famous because of his religious pamphlets as well as political works. He also joined the Leveller Movement which fought for religious tolerance and sovereignty of the people. It is not very clear but it is thought that William Walwyn alongside Richard Overton wrote The Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens. This is one of the Leveller Movements best pieces about their arguments.
In the year 1646 the writer put down another diatribe for John Liburne. This piece argued that he should have been set free from a prison sentence. Because of this work Richard was put behind bars by the Government which considered the diatribe a criminal act. He was held in Newgate Prison. Even after being imprisoned he still went on with his writing. He wrote many pamphlets fighting for the freedom and rights of an individual.
In the fall of 1647 he was released from Newgate prison. Immediately after this he joined hands with Leveller mutineers to face the Grandees. The Grandees represented the landed gentry in England during the Civil war. The Grandees were more powerful and they quickly rose and defeated the Leveller mutiny.
In the year 1649 the author was sent to prison yet again. This is because he had made more political pamphlets voicing out his opinions. Those in power considered these pieces acts of treason and thus the reason for jailing him. Later during the same year he was set free.
He continued to fight for the rights of the individual through his pamphlets. He believed in equality of all men. He also advocated for the Government to change. He also believed in sovereignty and he wanted monarchy to be abolished. The last couple of years of Richard Overton are not documented because not much is known about his activities.
Not much is known of this writers early life but he is believed to have enrolled at the Queens College in Cambridge. He was also a playwright and actor in Southwark. He was unknown for most part of his life until the year 1640. This is the year when his booklets began being circulated. At first his pamphlets which were satirical in nature were aimed at criticizing the Church of England. It is believed that Richard had converted to General Baptism religion through this period.
In one of his controversial documents he explained his theory on religion. The document was named Mans Mortalitie. In this theory he discussed his religious conviction which was widely criticized by Protestants from the Presbyterian Churches. They described it as heretical and wrong. Richard believed that both the soul and body of a human being are perishable and they die together. When the Last Judgement takes place both resurrect again. This belief was also shared by many of his friends in the religion of General Baptism.
During the year 1645 the writer started to become more famous because of his religious pamphlets as well as political works. He also joined the Leveller Movement which fought for religious tolerance and sovereignty of the people. It is not very clear but it is thought that William Walwyn alongside Richard Overton wrote The Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens. This is one of the Leveller Movements best pieces about their arguments.
In the year 1646 the writer put down another diatribe for John Liburne. This piece argued that he should have been set free from a prison sentence. Because of this work Richard was put behind bars by the Government which considered the diatribe a criminal act. He was held in Newgate Prison. Even after being imprisoned he still went on with his writing. He wrote many pamphlets fighting for the freedom and rights of an individual.
In the fall of 1647 he was released from Newgate prison. Immediately after this he joined hands with Leveller mutineers to face the Grandees. The Grandees represented the landed gentry in England during the Civil war. The Grandees were more powerful and they quickly rose and defeated the Leveller mutiny.
In the year 1649 the author was sent to prison yet again. This is because he had made more political pamphlets voicing out his opinions. Those in power considered these pieces acts of treason and thus the reason for jailing him. Later during the same year he was set free.
He continued to fight for the rights of the individual through his pamphlets. He believed in equality of all men. He also advocated for the Government to change. He also believed in sovereignty and he wanted monarchy to be abolished. The last couple of years of Richard Overton are not documented because not much is known about his activities.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.rickoverton.net for more helpful information about The History Of Richard Overton
No comments:
Post a Comment