Jonson， Ben （1572-1637）， English dramatist and poet， whose classical learning， gift for satire， and brilliant style made him one of the great figures of English literature. He was born in Westminster. Jonson's first original play， Every Man in His Humour， was performed in 1598 by the Lord Chamberlain's Company with English playwright William Shakespeare in the cast.

　　After 1603 Jonson began to write for the court of King James I. At the same time that he was writing for the court， he continued to write for the commercial theater. During this period he produced two historical tragedies， Sejanus （1603） and Catiline （1611）， and the four brilliant comedies： Volpone （1606）， Epicene， or the Silent Woman （1609）， The Alchemist （1610）， and Bartholomew Fair （1614）。 His many nontheatrical pieces， including epigrams， epistles， and lyrics， are collected in The Forest （1616） and Underwoods （published posthumously， 1640）。

　　Although Jonson's creative talents were varied， his considerable effect on English literature was probably the result of his critical theories. He sought to advance English drama as a form of literature， attempting to make it a conscious art by adhering to classical forms and rules. He protested against mixing tragedy and comedy and was an effective advocate of the principles of drama established by Greek philosopher Aristotle. Jonson's importance today rests upon his comedies of manners and their witty， sometimes hilarious portrayal of contemporary London life.