John Milton's relationships

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John Milton had several important relationships, both personal and intellectual, that shaped his life and writings.

Romantic life
- Mary Powell: Milton married Mary Powell in May 1642. She soon left him and returned to her mother. Because English law didn’t allow divorce, Milton couldn’t legally end the marriage. Powell’s departure may have been influenced by family and political tensions during the Civil War. The separation prompted Milton to study divorce and write about reforming English divorce laws. Their marriage did eventually reconcile, and they remained together until 1652, when Mary died in childbirth while giving birth to their daughter Deborah; their son also died not long after.
- Miss Davis: Between 1642 and 1645, Milton pursued a woman known as Miss Davis and tried to persuade her that his marriage should end in a divorce so he could marry her. The effort failed, but it did not stop his interest in divorce reform.
- Katherine Woodcock: Milton married Katherine Woodcock in 1656. This marriage was more successful, but Katherine died in childbirth, leaving Milton to care for their children while he was already blind.
- Elizabeth Mynshull: On 24 February 1662, Milton married Elizabeth Mynshull (a large age gap of about 31 years). This partnership is often described as happy, and he is sometimes called “the Third and best wife.” After Milton’s death, some stories accused her of mistreating his heirs, though she did not remarry afterward.

Close friendships and notable associates
- Charles Diodati: Milton’s earliest close relationship was with his schoolfriend Charles Diodati. They exchanged letters after school, and Milton wrote an elegy for Diodati after his death in 1638.
- Andrew Marvell: Milton recommended Marvell for a position with the Commonwealth’s Council of State in 1653. The two grew close, especially after Marvell joined Milton’s office as an assistant around 1657. They worked alongside John Dryden in the same office, which scholars note as a remarkable meeting of poets in Cromwell’s bureaucracy.
- Paget: Paget, a physician and cousin of Elizabeth Mynshull, was a longtime friend of Milton from around 1651.
- Thomas Hobbes: Milton’s relationship with Hobbes is debated. Some sources suggest they were not close and disagreed strongly on politics and religion, while others discuss notable differences in their thinking. Scholars have argued about whether their ideas about the soul, government, and religion were compatible or opposed, making them two famous critics of each other’s views.

Why these relationships matter
- Milton’s marriages and losses deeply influenced his writing, including his early focus on divorce reform.
- His friendships and professional connections connected him with other major poets and intellectuals of his time, shaping his work and his role in the political world of Cromwell’s England.

In short, Milton’s life was shaped by a mix of romantic trials, open friendships, and high-level collaborations, all of which influenced his poetry, prose, and ideas.