John Oldmixon facts for kids

John Oldmixon (born in 1673, died in 1742) was an English historian. A historian is like a detective of the past; they study and write about events that happened long ago. John Oldmixon became famous for writing many books about the history of England.

Who Was John Oldmixon?

John Oldmixon was born in a village called Oldmixon, near Weston-super-Mare in England. His father also had the same name.

When he was a boy, he grew up with the family of Admiral Robert Blake in Bridgwater. Later, he worked in trade through the busy port of Bristol. This means he helped buy and sell goods that came through the city's harbor.

John Oldmixon's Early Writing

Oldmixon started his writing career by creating poems and plays. One of his early collections of poems was called Amores Britannici; Epistles Historical and Gallant, published in 1703. He also wrote a serious play, a tragedy titled The Governor of Cyprus.

Writing About History

John Oldmixon's first history book was The British Empire in America, which came out in 1708. This book looked at the history of the British colonies in America.

He then wrote other historical works. These included The Secret History of Europe (published between 1712 and 1715). Another book was Arcana Gallica, Or the Secret History of France for the Last Century (1714).

His Important History Books

Oldmixon wrote several important books about English history. These books sometimes showed a strong opinion or favored one side over another. This is called being "biased."

His book Critical History of England (1724-1726) was quite well-known. In it, he disagreed with a famous historian named Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. He also supported another writer, Bishop Gilbert Burnet. This led to a public argument with a Dr. Zachary Grey. Oldmixon wrote another book, Clarendon and Whitlock Compared (1727), to answer Grey's points.

He continued writing about English history with his History of England During the Reigns of the Royal House of Stuart (1730). In this book, he claimed that Francis Atterbury and other editors had changed parts of a historical text. Atterbury, who was living away from England, wrote a response to defend himself. Even though Oldmixon kept arguing, most people believe he was mistaken in his claims.

Completing the Story of England

John Oldmixon worked to create a full history of England. He wrote History of England During the Reigns of William and Mary, Anne and George I in 1735.

He also wrote History of England During the Reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth in 1739. These books covered long periods of English rule.

Other Works and Later Life

Besides his main history books, Oldmixon wrote other works. These include Memoirs of North Britain (1715) and Essay on Criticism (1728). His book Memoirs of the Press 1710-1740 was published in 1742, after he had passed away.

Oldmixon also helped edit two important magazines of his time. These were The Muses Mercury and The Medley. He often felt that the government did not appreciate his work enough.