Christopher Smart, an English poet born on April 11, 1722, and who passed away on May 21, 1771, led a life marked by both significant literary achievements and profound personal struggles. A prominent figure in 18th-century London's cultural scene, he was known for his sharp wit, his diverse poetic talents, and his deep religious convictions, which, ironically, became a source of his greatest challenges.

An Engaging Public Figure and Literary Luminary

During his early career, Smart was far from an obscure writer; he was a dynamic and influential presence in London's literary circles. He made substantial contributions to two of the era's most popular periodicals, The Midwife and The Student. The Midwife, a satirical magazine often featuring bawdy humor, saw Smart adopt the wildly popular and scandalous persona of "Mrs. Mary Midnight," a pseudonymous character known for her satirical commentary and performances that captivated London audiences. In contrast, The Student was a more serious literary journal, showcasing his versatility as a writer. This dual presence allowed him to engage with both popular culture and more refined literary tastes.

Smart also moved effortlessly among the era's intellectual giants, counting influential cultural icons such as Samuel Johnson, the celebrated lexicographer and man of letters, and Henry Fielding, the renowned novelist, among his friends. These connections underscore his respected position within the literary establishment of his time, painting a picture of a well-regarded and socially connected individual whose life seemed to hold great promise.

The Shadow of Confinement: Accusations and Asylum Life

Despite his public acclaim and influential friends, Smart's life took a tragic turn, largely overshadowed by his prolonged confinement in mental asylums between May 1757 and January 1763. A devout High Church Anglican, his fervent religious expression was interpreted by some as a descent into madness, specifically a "religious mania." This perception led to his commitment to St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics in Upper Moorfields, London, on May 6, 1757. The instigator of this committal was none other than his father-in-law, John Newbery, a prominent publisher of the day. While Newbery's motives have been debated—ranging from genuine concern for Smart's well-being to a desire to silence a troublesome son-in-law who was also a financial burden—the impact on Smart was profound. Some accounts suggest he may have been confined in a private madhouse even before his admission to St. Luke's.

Life within these 18th-century institutions was notoriously harsh, often involving little understanding of mental illness and even less in the way of humane treatment. At St. Luke's, Smart was tragically diagnosed as "incurable." When funds for his care eventually ran out, he was transferred to Mr. Potter's asylum in Bethnal Green. During these years of isolation, with only fragmentary records surviving, it is known that Smart found solace and purpose in his writing. His contemporaries held varied opinions on his condition; while many agreed he was "mad," some felt his committal was unjust, highlighting the complex and often brutal realities of mental health perceptions and treatment in the Georgian era.

Poetic Masterpieces Born of Adversity

Remarkably, it was during these years of profound isolation and suffering that Christopher Smart produced his two most enduring and critically acclaimed works: A Song to David and Jubilate Agno. Both poems were at least partly composed within the confines of the asylum, transforming his personal ordeal into extraordinary artistic expression. The enforced solitude seems to have spurred a significant shift in his poetic approach; he moved away from the more conventional 18th-century poetic genres that characterized his earlier work, embracing instead a deeply personal and often experimental form of religious verse.

Jubilate Agno, meaning "Rejoice in the Lamb," is a particularly unique and powerful work. Structured as a liturgical call and response, it is a testament to his fervent faith and his desire for "unmediated revelation"—a direct, personal experience of the divine. This poem is seen by many scholars as an expression of evangelical Christianity, demonstrating a profound spiritual journey undertaken in extreme circumstances. Its innovative structure and intense spiritual focus have led it to be considered a revolutionary piece of literature. However, its complex nature meant that it remained unpublished until 1939, nearly two centuries after its composition, significantly delaying its critical recognition and influence.

A Song to David, a meticulously crafted ode of praise, stands as another towering achievement from this period. Its intricate structure, vibrant imagery, and profound theological depth showcase Smart's unparalleled poetic skill even under duress. While initially receiving mixed reviews from his contemporaries—some of whom dismissed it due to his perceived madness—its brilliance would eventually be recognized, though not fully appreciated until the 19th century.

A Troubled Release and Enduring Legacy

Upon his eventual release from confinement, Christopher Smart found that the stigma of his mental health struggles, coupled with his persistent financial difficulties, continued to haunt him. He was known for accumulating more debt than he could realistically repay, a problem that plagued him throughout his adult life. This unfortunate pattern ultimately led to his confinement in a debtors' prison, a common but harsh fate for many in 18th-century England, where he remained until his death in 1771.

Despite the personal hardships, Smart's literary legacy is rich and complex. To his contemporaries, he was best known not only for his popular contributions to journals like The Midwife and The Student but also for his acclaimed Seaton Prize poems, which were religious odes, and his mock epic, The Hilliad. While he is primarily recognized today as a religious poet, the breadth of his work also explored other significant themes, including his unique theories on nature and his ardent promotion of English nationalism, demonstrating a mind engaged with the diverse intellectual currents of his era.

The critical reception of Smart's work has evolved dramatically over time. In the late 18th century, many critics dismissed works like A Song to David, using his perceived "madness" as justification to ignore its artistic merit. However, the 19th century brought a significant shift, with figures like the celebrated poet Robert Browning and his contemporaries beginning to view Smart's very condition not as a flaw, but as the wellspring of his genius. This re-evaluation paved the way for the profound reconsideration of his legacy that truly took hold in the 20th century. The rediscovery and eventual publication of Jubilate Agno in 1939 proved to be a pivotal moment. With this remarkable work finally accessible, critics began to see Christopher Smart as a truly revolutionary poet, whose innovative style and profound spiritual insights set him apart. This modern perspective also fueled speculation about his confinement, with some suggesting it might have been part of a deliberate plot by his father-in-law, the publisher John Newbery, to silence him, adding another layer of intrigue to his extraordinary life story.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christopher Smart

Who was Christopher Smart?

Christopher Smart (1722–1771) was an English poet known for his significant contributions to 18th-century literature, his unique religious poetry, and a life marked by both fame and severe personal challenges, including periods of confinement in mental asylums and debtors' prison.

What are his most famous works?

His two most widely recognized and critically acclaimed works are A Song to David and Jubilate Agno. Both were at least partly written during his confinement in a mental asylum, with Jubilate Agno remaining unpublished until 1939.

Why was Christopher Smart confined to a mental asylum?

Smart was committed to mental asylums, primarily by his father-in-law John Newbery, due to what was perceived as "religious mania." While his contemporaries often considered him "mad," later critics have debated the fairness of his committal, sometimes suggesting it was a strategy to control him, possibly due to his debts or his unconventional behavior.

What was "Mrs. Mary Midnight"?

"Mrs. Mary Midnight" was a popular pseudonymous character adopted by Christopher Smart for his satirical contributions and performances in The Midwife magazine. This persona allowed him to engage in witty, often irreverent social commentary that captivated London audiences.

How was his work received by his contemporaries versus later generations?

Contemporaries mostly knew him for his journal contributions, Seaton Prize poems, and The Hilliad. His more profound works like A Song to David received mixed reviews and were sometimes dismissed due to his perceived mental instability. It wasn't until the 19th century, with figures like Robert Browning, that his "madness" was reinterpreted as a source of genius. The 20th century, particularly after the 1939 publication of Jubilate Agno, saw him fully re-evaluated as a revolutionary and significant poet.

Did his confinement influence his poetry?

Absolutely. His isolation in the asylum led to a significant transformation in his poetic style. He moved away from the conventional genres of his earlier work to embrace a more personal, experimental, and intensely religious form of poetry, exemplified by Jubilate Agno, which explores themes of unmediated revelation and evangelical Christianity.