Charles Jennens

Charles Jennens was an English patron of the arts and writer, best known as the librettist for Handel's oratorio Messiah. He was born in 1700 into a wealthy family in Leicestershire and studied at Oxford University, which he never formally completed due to his political and religious views. As an educated art lover, he became a patron of the composer George Frideric Handel, writing texts for several of his works. His greatest artistic achievement came in 1741 when he compiled the libretto for Messiah, masterfully crafting its dramatic text from biblical passages. He also left a significant mark on theatre history; as one of the first editors to publish careful critical editions of William Shakespeare's plays (such as Hamlet and King Lear), he helped lay the foundations of modern theatrology.