Joseph Addison – published

ON THIS DATE

Joseph Addison (3/8/1711) published, “To be an atheist requires an infinitely greater measure of faith than to receive all the great truths which atheism would deny.”

Addison was born 5/1/1672, son Lancelot Addison, rector of Milston, Wiltshire, England. His education included Charterhouse (boarding school) & Oxford, where he received his BA & MA. He rounded out his education spending 1.5 yrs in France, 1 in Italy & over a yr in Switzerland, Austria, Germany & Holland. 

He did not marry (Countess of Warwick) until 1716. Addison was a poet, an essayist & for some time worked with the “The Spectator” (source of the above quote). The popularity of his poem “The Campaign” appears to have led to his being appointed Under Secretary of State – poetry HAS changed. 🙂

Christians today identifying with him as the author the following hymn:

The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame Their great Original proclaim.

Th’unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his creator’s powers display,

And publishes to every land The work of an almighty hand.