Andrew Marvell (part 1)
Andrew Marvell himself still remains something of a mystery with surviving letters and contemporary references reveal little of his personality. He was friends with Royalists yet held Puritan views. His political affiliations also appeared to be contradictory as he served as MP for Hull under both Thomas Crowell and King Charles II.
Early Days
Andrew Marvell was born in Winestead, near Hull in March 1621 with his father, also named Andrew, was a curate. The family including Marvell's three sisters, Anne, Mary and Elizabeth moved to Hull when Andrew Marvell Snr was appointed Master of the Charterhouse and Lecturer at Holy Trinity Church in Hull.
Although there is no documentary evidence, Marvell would most certainly have attended Hull Grammar school, where he would have learnt Latin. School days in the 17th Century were much longer than today. Lessons normally began around 6am, with a two hour break from 11-1, and finishing around 5 or 6 in the evening.
Church career abandoned
At the age of 12 Marvell went to Trinity College Cambridge and was awarded a BA at the age of eighteen. It is thought that he intended to follow in his father's footsteps with a career in the church. However, in 1641 Marvell left Cambridge following the death of his father in a boating accident whilst crossing the River Humber to Barton.
The death of his father forced Marvell to make his own living and he did so by becoming a tutor to young gentleman taking the Grand Tour in Europe and learnt four languages. The position of a tutor was not a prestigious one, (comparable with the position of governess in Victorian times) and he remained a tutor well into his thirties.
Civil War
Marvell's time abroad coincided with the un-rest during the Civil War especially after King Charles I was denied entry in to the city of Hull in 1642. When he returned to Hull in the late 1640s he became tutor to Mary Fairfax, the sole daughter and heir of Lord Fairfax, who was Commander of Cromwell's New Model Army until 1650. After a few years he left to become tutor to William Dutton, protégé and ward of Oliver Cromwell. In 1657 he was appointed to assist Milton in the post of Latin Secretary of State.
Poetry
Although Marvell had begun writing poetry whilst at Cambridge, it was during his time as tutor that he wrote some of his most famous poetry, including To his Coy Mistress. He also wrote a poem to celebrate the first anniversary of the government under Oliver Cromwell in 1654. He used Lord Fairfax's house as inspiration to write Upon Appleton house, The Garden and the Mower Poems.
