I had never heard of this particular poet before, but this was quite an eventful day for him. On this date in 1757, Christopher Smart was admitted into St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics in London. He was taken there by his father-in-law, John Newberry. It is quite possible that he was committed unfairly, possibly due to debts or reported “madness” that was related to his evangelical Christian faith. After reading about this poet, I am greatly intrigued, and I need to do some research. Although he died in debtor’s prison, it seems that somewhere along the line, he became a dedicated Christian. This was also a somewhat unpopular view in light of the English Anglican Church. He wrote great poetry (which I have also not read). Maybe I’ll see him in heaven! I always get so excited when I read about musicians, authors, and other historical figures who seemed to truly love the Lord because it means I might get to see them in heaven since they preceded me in death. Enough about that.
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