James Carkesse facts for kids
James Carkesse was an interesting English person who lived a long time ago, from about 1636 to after 1683. He worked for the navy and was also a schoolteacher. He is famous today for the poems he wrote while he was staying in places like Bethlem Hospital and an asylum in Finsbury. He was also a special member of the Royal Society, which is a group for important scientists and thinkers.
Contents
The Early Life of James Carkesse
James Carkesse went to school at Westminster School. After that, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, which is a famous university.
Becoming a School Head and Royal Society Member
In 1663, James Carkesse became the head of Magdalen College School. This was a big job! A year later, in 1664, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This means he was recognized as an important person in science and learning.
Later in the 1660s, Carkesse started working for the Naval Office in London. This office helped manage the English navy. He worked as a clerk under a person named William Brouncker.
James Carkesse and Samuel Pepys
While working at the Naval Office, James Carkesse met Samuel Pepys. Pepys was a very famous person who kept a detailed diary. His diary tells us about Carkesse's time at the office. It even mentions when Carkesse lost his job in 1667 and then got it back. However, he finally lost his position for good in 1673.
Later Life and Poetry
In the late 1670s, James Carkesse began to struggle with his health. During this time, he wrote a book of poems called Lucida intervalla (which means "bright intervals"). This book was published in 1679.
His Famous Poems
The poems in Lucida intervalla are what James Carkesse is remembered for today. The book's subtitle tells us that he wrote these poems while he was staying in a private asylum run by Thomas Allen in Finsbury, and later in the Bethlem Hospital. These places were like hospitals for people who needed help with their mental health. The poems are sometimes called "doggerel verse," which means they are lighthearted and not always serious.
Becoming a School Head Again
Even after these difficult times, James Carkesse continued his career. In 1683, he became the head of Chelmsford School. We don't know exactly when he passed away, but his life story shows he was a person who experienced many different things.
