Cowley, Abraham (1618-1667), was an English poet and essayist whose first volume of verse was published when he was 15. His major publications include Poetical Blossoms (1633), The Mistress (1647), and his unfinished epic, Davideis (1656). Cowley began as a rather derivative, mechanical love poet, strongly influenced by poet John Donne and his followers. Later, Cowley began to write Odes in the manner of the Greek poet Pindar. This new style produced his best poem, “Ode to the Royal Society.” Samuel Johnson published a famous attack on the Metaphysical poets in his Life of Cowley (1779).
Cowley was born in London. As a follower of Charles II, he served the royalist cause in exile during the Puritan revolution. He returned to favor after the Restoration in 1660. That year, Cowley helped form the Royal Society, an organization that promotes the natural sciences, and became one of its first members. He died on July 18, 1667.
See also Metaphysical poets.
