ROCHESTER, JOHN WILMOT (2ND EARL OF) (1647-1680)

—Poet, s. of the 1st Earl, b. at Ditchley in Oxfords hire, and ed. at Oxf., saw some naval service when he showed conspicuous bravery. He became one of the most di olute of the courtiers of Charles II., and wore himself out at 33 by his wild life. He was handsome, and witty, and po e ed a singular charm of manner. He wrote a number of light, graceful poems, many of them extremely gro . Bishop Burnet, who attended him on his deathbed, believed him to have been sincerely repentant. In addition to his short pieces he wrote a Satyr against Mankind , and a tragedy, Val ent in i an , adapted from Beaumont and Fletcher.