Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Joseph Addison receive a treasury grant to travel in Europe?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison, oil painting by Michael Dahl, 1719; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Joseph Addison received a treasury grant to travel in Europe because influential Whig statesmen, specifically Lord Keeper Somers and Charles Montague (later the earl of Halifax), recognized his literary talent and potential value to the crown. Following the favorable reception of his 1695 work, A Poem to his Majesty, these patrons provided the grant to facilitate his travel and prepare him for a future career in government service.1