Richard Bentley

About

Late 17th and early 18th-century English academic and literary critic. He headed Trinity College, Cambridge and had an acclaimed career as a classical scholar.

Before Fame

He graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge in 1680. Nearly two decades later, he published Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris, the academic work for which he is best remembered.

Trivia

He was one of the key figures in the establishment of the English scholarly field of Hellenism (Greek studies).

Family Life

In 1701, he married Joanna Bernard, with whom he had three children.

Associated With

His 1732 scholarly work on John Milton 's Paradise Lost was criticized by numerous literary figures, including fellow classical scholar A.E. Housman.