Cato - Definition and Overview

Cato can refer to several different things.

• Cato is a Roman cognomen used by a branch of the Porcii family. At least two Roman politicians are known to have used this name:
  • Marcus Porcius Cato, the Elder, (2nd century BC), the censor
  • Marcus Porcius Cato, the Younger, (1st century BC), his great-grandson, Julius Caesar's enemy.

• Cato the name commonly used for the Distichs of Cato, a medieval Latin text used as a schoolbook, and moral compass throughout the Middle Ages. It is commonly known through its reference in Canterbury Tales, and Benjamin Franklins 18th century translation.

• Cato is a 18th century play by Joseph Addison, based upon the life of Cato the Younger. In this dramatic text, Cato is portrayed as a hero, fighting for liberty against the tyranny of Julius Caesar. The play is reported to be one of George Washington's favourite literature pieces, perhaps because of the fight of the Americans against the oppression of the English.

• The Village of Cato is a village in New York in the USA.
• The Town of Cato is also a town in New York in the USA.

• The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank