Alexander Pope

1688 (London) – 1744 (Twickenham)

Both Wycherley and Congreve encouraged the young Pope in his career. Swift and Gay, both long and close friends, formed the Scriblerus Club with him and Arbuthnot, and were among the few literary contemporaries he did not attack; he helped Swift with publication of ‘Gulliver’s Travels.’ He was infatuated with Montagu, sending her letters across Europe, and after being rebuffed, publicly turned on her. Writing to Sloane about the grotto he’d had built beneath his house, he got some basalt in return. Voltaire visited him in Twickenham (as did Montesquieu), and lavished praise on his ‘Essay on Man.’