LEMUEL GULLIVER

Lemuel Gulliver is a fictional character from a novel by Jonathan Swift, an Anglo-Irish satirist. Gulliver is a ship's doctor who travels to imaginary lands where he encounters unusual creatures. Born in Nottinghamshire, he studied navigation and medicine before setting sail.

Early life and education: Born in Nottinghamshire, he was the third of five sons in a family with a small estate. At age 14, he was sent to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, to study navigation and mathematics. After three years at the college, he spent another four years studying under a surgeon.

Professional activities and travels: He worked as a ship's doctor, which allowed him to travel the world. His travels took him to fantastical lands such as Lilliput and Brobdingnag. In Lilliput, he turned out to be a giant compared to the locals, and then in Brobdingnag, he himself became a Lilliputian in the eyes of the giants.

Personality and personal life: He was a thorough and honest man, although somewhat limited in his judgment. He was affectionate towards his friends, but was more reserved in matters of love. He married Mary Burton on the advice of friends, but later returned to sea due to worsening financial circumstances. Swift used the image of Gulliver as a narrator through whom he ridiculed human and social vices, but Gulliver himself did not consider himself one.