Who was Jonathan Swift? After reading, “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift I was very interested in learning about his background and how he became a satirical writer. Jonathan Swift was a well-known satirist and Irish author; he played a prominent role in political articles during his time. According to biography.com Swift was, “born in Dublin, Ireland on November 30, 1667.” However, he grew up in poverty because of the recent death of his father prior to his birth. This situation created an immense struggle for Swift’s mother while growing up. Eventually, Swift’s mother gifted her child to Godwin Swift who was her husband’s brother. Immediately, Swift had to make the switch from a life filled with poverty to one in a high performing private