Researched Essay

Ben Jonson was born on June 11, 1572 in London, England. His father a minister, died shortly before this birth, and his mother remarried a bricklayer. He was raised in Westminster and attended St. Martin's parish and Westminster School. He joined the army where he serve in Flanders. He returned back to England after serving in 1592. He married Anne Lewis on November 14th, 1594 and had at least three children. It was very difficult to find information on his wife and children.

Jonson started his career as an actor and playwright on or before 1597 when he joined the theactrical company of Phillip Henslave in London. In 1598, he was imprisoned in the "Fleet Prison" for killing a fellow actor Gabriel Spencer, he then was released from prison two weeks later. He set out on foot to Scotland, home of his ancestors at the age of 45. 

After his return he continued to act and playwright until his death in 1637. His last play was "Sad Shepherd's Tale" was left unfinished until it was finally published in 1641. Ben Jonson was also known for his poems and quotes. His youngest son died at the age of 7 years and he wrote the poem called " On My First Sonne" as a tribute to his son. 

Ben Jonson died at the age of 65, on August 6th, 1637 and is buried in Westminster Abbey under a plain slab in an upright position which carved on his tombstone reads " O Rare Ben Jonson!"

I learned that Ben Jonson was an interesting actor and playwright who tried somewhat to keep up with William Shakespeare and he was regarded as the second best known playwright of the seventeenth century.