Was a clergyman. Took his orders in 1694 and was appointed vicar of Kilroot, near Belfast. His first writings were ecclesiastical in nature. Joined the Tory Party in 1710, became its leading writer and editor of The Examiner (1711). Also contributed articles to publications like Tatler. Swift became a champion of Irish grievances at the hands of Whig politics. He wrote "Gulliver's Travels" fairly late in his career (1726). Swift is especially noteworthy for being one of the first writers to use prose as a means of satire.