Evelyn, << EEV lihn, >> John (1620-1706), an English writer, became famous for the diary that he kept from 1641 until the year he died. The diary was published in 1818.
Unlike the lively, intimate diary of Samuel Pepys, Evelyn’s memoirs are the record of a religious and dignified gentleman. They serve as an important historical document from the period of the English Civil War of the 1640’s. Included are vivid accounts of the Great Fire of London and other events, and brilliant descriptions of famous people of the time. Evelyn also discussed such subjects as city planning, gardening, and science.
Evelyn was born on Oct. 31, 1620, in Wotton, Surrey. He held several government positions under Charles II and , and he helped found the Royal Society, one of the world’s foremost scientific organizations. He died in Wotton on Feb. 27, 1706.
