Lord Alfred Tennyson

Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) was one of the most renowned poets of the Victorian era. Born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, he was the fourth of twelve children in a large, literarily-inclined family. Tennyson began writing poetry at a young age, and by the time he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, he had already won the Chancellor's Gold Medal for his poem "Timbuctoo."

His early works, such as "Poems, Chiefly Lyrical" (1830) and "Poems" (1833), received mixed reviews, but his talent was unmistakable. The publication of "In Memoriam A.H.H." (1850), an elegy to his close friend Arthur Hallam, cemented his position as a leading poet. That same year, Queen Victoria appointed him as Poet Laureate, a position he held until his death, producing works that celebrated national events and figures.

Tennyson's poetry is characterized by its rich imagery, emotional depth, and mastery of meter. Major works include "The Charge of the Light Brigade," "Maud," and "Idylls of the King," which solidified his literary legacy. He was made a Baron in 1884, becoming the first poet to be ennobled in such a manner. Lord Alfred Tennyson died on October 6, 1892, and was buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner, leaving behind an indelible mark on English literature.