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Why did John Donne lose his position in Sir Thomas Egerton’s household?
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John Donne lost his position in Sir Thomas Egerton’s household because he secretly married Anne More, the niece of Egerton’s second wife and the daughter of Sir George More.1
Knowing that Sir George More would not approve of the union, the couple married in secret, likely in December 1601. Upon discovering the marriage, Sir George More had Donne briefly imprisoned and successfully demanded his dismissal from Egerton’s service. This event also resulted in the denial of Anne’s dowry and effectively ended Donne's prospects for a career in public service at that time.1