John Donne lived from 1572 to 1631. He was contradictory in that he wrote both clever love poems when young and serious meditations and sermons when older. He was raised Catholic but later abandoned Catholicism for the Church of England, though it is debated if this was a true conversion or to advance socially. He also secretly married his employer's niece in 1601, leaving questions if this was out of love or to promote his career. Donne was an intellectual concerned with philosophy, law, science and other subjects. He was known for using poetic devices like conceits and paradoxes in his writing.