By the late eighteenth century Milton was regarded as one of Britain's most important literary figures, second only to Shakespeare. His most influential poetic works included his masque Comus (1637), "Lycidas" (1638), "L'Allegro" (1745) and "Il Penseroso" (1745), Paradise Lost (1667), Paradise Regained (1671), and Samson Agonistes (1671). In addition, his sonnets offered inspiration to the Romantic period sonnet revival. Among his prose works, Areopagitica (1644), originally written as a speech, defends freedom of the press.

Founder of the Peckham Academy and author of A Practical Grammar of the Greek Tongue (1740). Milner also worked as a doctor of chemistry at the Peckham Academy where he instructed Oliver Goldsmith.

The eighteenth century's most noted horticulturist, Miller was the author of several important works on gardening, the most notable of which were The Gardeners Kalendar (1731) and The Gardener's Dictionary (1732), both of which were updated for numerous additional editions.

Joseph Miller was a London comic actor whose humor inspired the compilation Joe Miller's Jests: or, the Wit's Vade-Mecum. Being a collection of the most brilliant jests, the politest repartees, the most elegant bons mots, and the most pleasant short stories in the English Language. First carefully collected in the company, and many of them transcribed from the mouth, of the facetious gentleman whose name they bear, and now set forth and published by his lamentable friend and former companion, Elijah Jenkins, Esq. .

James Miller was an English minister, playwright, and poet. He followed his father and became a preacher for the church, but continued writing poems and plays to supplement his income. Miller’s last work was Mahomet, the Imposter (1744), translated from Voltaire. His most-known poem is a satire titled Harlequin Horace.

English poet, woman of letters, heiress, traveler, and salon hostess. Although she donated the proceeds to charity, Lady Miller's collection of compositions was harshly criticized by Horace Walpole and Samuel Johnson.

Late-Elizabethan and early-Jacobean poet and playwright, baptized in 1580. A prolific and popular writer, Middleton was known for his talent with both tragedies and comedies, sometimes combined in his famous tragicomedies. Middleton collaborated with playwrights such as Thomas Dekker, Philip Massinger, and John Webster. Middleton's most famous plays include The Changeling, A Fair Quarrel, The Old Law, and Revenger's Tragedy.

Italian sculptor, painter, poet, and architect during the High Renaissance, Michelangelo is considered as one of the quintessential figures influencing Western art. His best known works include his sculpture David, his scenes of Genesis painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and his architectural design of St. Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo also participated in the Siege of Florence from 1528-1529, designing the city's fortifications to protect against the rule of the Medici.

Italian poet, dramatist, and librettist. Works include: Poesie (1717), Giustino (1718), Didone abbandonata (1724), Demetrio (1731), Demofoonte (1733), Olimpiade ((1733), La clemenza di Tito (1734), Achille in Sciro (1736), Ciro riconosciuto (1736), Attilio Regalo (1740), L'eroe cinese (1752), Il trionfo di Clelia (1762), Ruggerio (1771), and Estratto della Poetica d'Aristotele (1782).

The Belgian born Merlin was known in eighteenth-century London for the ingenious devices exhibited at Merlin's Mechanical Museum, including complex mechanical toys and household devices, sickroom supplies such as an innovative wheelchair and an adjustable wheeled bed, and musical instruments both whimsical and practical. Merlin's best known patron would probably have been Dr. Burney, who commissioned from him a pianoforte with an extended keyboard for playing duets.