Ben Jonson BiographyBorn in London, England, on or about June 11, 1572, Ben Jonson learned the true meaning of tragedy at an early age (The Life of Ben Jonson). Jonson's father was a Protestant and was sentenced to prison and stripped of his estate during the reign of Mary Tudor, who was Catholic. With only a month left before Ben Jonson was born, his mother was left a penniless widow when his father died suddenly. Seeking financial stability, Jonson's mother hastily married a bricklayer shortly after Ben (Ben Jonson) was born. Ben Jonson attended school at Westminster School in London, where the schoolmaster William Camden paid for his education. After completing his education, Jonson decided to pursue his stepfather's trade as a bricklayer rather than attend a university for further study (Poetry: Ben Jonson). Becoming very dissatisfied with his chosen profession, Jonson joined the army where he served in Flanders. Jonson made the decision to return to England in 1592 where he met his future wife, Anne Lewis. The two were united in marriage just a few years later, on 14 November 1594. Jonson returned to the bricklaying trade to support his family, but began writing poetry on the side. In 1596 his wife Anne gave birth to their only child who Johnson called his "best piece of poetry" (Ben Jonson). Eventually getting tired of being a bricklayer again; Jonson obtained employment as an actor and playwright with the London theater company of Phillip Henslowe (The Life of Ben Jonson). After his employment, Johnson was imprisoned by Elizabeth for his play, The Isle of Dogs because the authorities found it offensive (The Life of Ben Jonson). After his imprisonment, Ben Jonson emerged from... middle of paper.. ....Jonson is an icon of theatrical history and literature (Ben Jonson), and is also known as a master of comedies. With his personal prestige, extraordinary number of friends and enemies, and perhaps the fact that we know little about him, Ben Johnson is considered by many to be one of the most eccentric playwrights ever. Bibliography: "Ben Jonson". Online. Internet. September 18, 2000. Available http://www.imagination.com/moonstruck/clscll.htm Jokinen, Anniina. "The Life of Ben Jonson." July 17, 2000. Online. Internet.18 September 2000. Available http://www.lumninarium.org/sevenlit/jonson/bebbio.htmJonas, A Barish, ed., Ben Jonson. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1963. “Poetry: Ben Jonson: Biography.” Online. Internet. September 18, 2000. Available http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/litlinks/poetry/jonson.htm