John Milton (1562–1647) was an English composer and father of poetJohn Milton.^[1] His compositions were mostly religious in theme. A financial worker by trade, he also wrote poetry. He lived inLondon for most of his life.

Early in his life he converted toProtestantism and his own Roman Catholic father, Richard Milton, subsequently disowned him. He moved toLondon around 1583 to work as an apprenticescrivener.^[2] His work largely pertained to business matters; often working as amoneylender or a financialbroker.^[2][3] He registered with theCompany of Scriveners on 27 February 1599. Soon after this he started a family, marrying Sara Jeffrey (c. 1572–1637) and living inBread Street,London, with her parents. Records show the couple had six children, three of whom reached adulthood. The three surviving children were Anne,John Milton (the poet) and Christopher Milton (a judge who was later awarded aknighthood).^[1]

Similar to his first son of the same name, Milton wrote poetry. Two poems are known to have existed: a sonnet and a poem dedicated toJohn Lane—both unpublished.^[1] Milton's main creative outlet, however, was composing music. Twenty musical compositions are verified as belonging to Milton. All but one of his compositions contained a religious theme. Milton succeeded in publishing his works inThomas Morley'sThe Triumphs of Oriana (1601),William Leighton'sThe Tears or Lamentations of a Sorrowful Soul (1612) andThomas Ravenscroft'sThe Whole Book of Psalms (1621), amongst others. Other works survived as manuscripts under the care of John Browne, a Parliamentary clerk, and Thomas Myriell, a personal friend of the composer.^[1] During a visit ofOtto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel to London in the summer of 1611, Milton composed a song in four parts, for which the landgrave presented him with a gold medal.^[4]

Milton's work made the family so prosperous that they could afford to employ private tutors ofclassical languages for their sons and later send them to school and university.^[5] This affluence also meant that his eldest son,John Milton, never had to work and thus spent his time focusing on writing.^[3] Milton also ensured that his eldest son was thoroughly educated in music.^[3]

In 1631 Milton and his family moved from Bread Street toHammersmith where he resided until his retirement in 1636. Thereafter he moved with his wife toHorton, Buckinghamshire. However, Sara died shortly after on 3 April 1637 and she was buried in the aisle of the parish church. Milton moved toReading, Berkshire in 1641 to live with his youngest son but after theSiege of Reading he moved back to London, living with his eldest son, John Milton. After his son reconciled with his wife the family moved to theBarbican. He remained there until his death and was buried on 15 March 1647 inSt Giles Cripplegate.^[1]

• Ernest Brennecke Jr.,John Milton the Elder and His Music. Octagon Books New York, 1973.

• Free scores by John Milton in theChoral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Free scores by John Milton at theInternational Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

• 1562 births
• 1647 deaths
• English classical composers
• English Baroque composers
• 16th-century English composers
• 16th-century Protestants
• 17th-century Protestants
• English Protestants
• Writers from London
• 17th-century English poets
• 17th-century English male writers
• 16th-century English poets
• 16th-century English male writers
• 17th-century English classical composers
• English male poets
• English male classical composers
• 17th-century male musicians

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