Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet, and cleric who became Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Swift is best remembered as the author of Gulliver's Travels, a seminal work in the canon of English literature known for its biting satire on human nature, society, and the travellers' tales literary subgenre.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Swift's early life was marked by uncertainty and displacement. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and later at Hart Hall, Oxford. Swift initially pursued a career in the Church of England, but he also became deeply involved in politics, aligning himself with the Tory party. This political involvement heavily influenced his writing, which often addressed the pressing social and political issues of his time.

Swift's writing is characterised by its sharp satire, irony, and the use of the persona. His work not only entertained but also critiqued the social and political practices of his time, making him a key figure in the Western literary tradition. Swift's legacy endures in the continued relevance and humor of his satirical works and his influence on subsequent generations of writers.