Richard Overton was an English man born in 1599. He was renowned as a pamphleteer. A pamphleteer is a person who creates or publishes pamphlets that deal mainly with controversial issues. Mr. Overtone was also a Leveller. A Leveller was a follower of a certain political movement during the English civil war that emphasized on equality, justice, and religious tolerance.
Much of the life of this man remains a mystery. However, it is said he studied at Queens College Cambridge. After college he went into acting and was also a playwright. Soon afterwards he took an interest in politics and started writing pamphlets dealing with touchy political issues. His political stand did not auger well with the government at that time. His open criticism of the regime at that time made him get jailed two times.
Overtone is believed to have published just about fifty very controversial pamphlets. Some of his most widely known ones include 'Articles of High Treason Exhibited Against Cheapside Cross' and 'The Just Man in Bonds.' He mostly wrote articles that argued for equality among all men.
He was also a staunch believer in popular sovereignty and wanted the outlawing of monarchical rule. These beliefs led him to join forces with two other Englishmen, namely Edward Sexby and John Wildman in 1655 in a plot to overthrow the government. When the coup failed, he was imprisoned. He was unconditionally released on 16th September, 1647. He decided to go into exile and finally fled to Flanders in the year 1655.
In 1664, Overton died at age sixty five. While still in Flanders he continued doing his work as a pamphleteer. He was also involved in a lot of anti-government activities, but most of them were unsuccessful. He later returned home to England and wrote a revised version of his treatise 'Man Wholly Made.'
A lot of information on Richard Overton is still uncertain to date. This is due to the fact that he spent most of his life at loggerheads with the governing authority. He authored a lot of his articles anonymously and he claimed no rights over them. Most of his literature may not be recognized as his work. richard overton
Much of the life of this man remains a mystery. However, it is said he studied at Queens College Cambridge. After college he went into acting and was also a playwright. Soon afterwards he took an interest in politics and started writing pamphlets dealing with touchy political issues. His political stand did not auger well with the government at that time. His open criticism of the regime at that time made him get jailed two times.
Overtone is believed to have published just about fifty very controversial pamphlets. Some of his most widely known ones include 'Articles of High Treason Exhibited Against Cheapside Cross' and 'The Just Man in Bonds.' He mostly wrote articles that argued for equality among all men.
He was also a staunch believer in popular sovereignty and wanted the outlawing of monarchical rule. These beliefs led him to join forces with two other Englishmen, namely Edward Sexby and John Wildman in 1655 in a plot to overthrow the government. When the coup failed, he was imprisoned. He was unconditionally released on 16th September, 1647. He decided to go into exile and finally fled to Flanders in the year 1655.
In 1664, Overton died at age sixty five. While still in Flanders he continued doing his work as a pamphleteer. He was also involved in a lot of anti-government activities, but most of them were unsuccessful. He later returned home to England and wrote a revised version of his treatise 'Man Wholly Made.'
A lot of information on Richard Overton is still uncertain to date. This is due to the fact that he spent most of his life at loggerheads with the governing authority. He authored a lot of his articles anonymously and he claimed no rights over them. Most of his literature may not be recognized as his work. richard overton
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