CLEVELAND, John (1613-59), an English poet of some eminence in his time, who, during the civil war, engaged as a literary champion in the royal cause against the parliamentarians. His works, which consist of poems, characters, orations, epistles, &c., were printed in 8vo in 1677. The last edition appeared so long ago as 1687; yet Cleveland was in his day esteemed one of the best of the English poets, and enjoyed a popularity far surpassing that of Milton.