William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was an eminent English Romantic poet whose work marked a turning point in English literature. Born on April 7th, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumbria, Wordsworth was deeply influenced by the natural beauty of the Lake District, which became a recurring theme in his poetry. Orphaned by the age of 13, he was educated at Hawkshead Grammar School and later at St John's College, Cambridge.

In 1795, Wordsworth met Samuel Taylor Coleridge, with whom he formed a pivotal literary partnership. Their collaboration produced "Lyrical Ballads" (1798), a landmark collection that signaled the advent of Romanticism. Wordsworth's preface to the second edition, outlining his poetic principles, remains a seminal text in English literary criticism. His magnum opus, "The Prelude," an autobiographical epic, reflects his philosophical journey and reverence for nature.

Wordsworth served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1843 until his death, receiving widespread acclaim for his profound and accessible verse. He continued to write and revise his work until his death on April 23rd, 1850. Wordsworth's legacy endures, celebrated for his efforts to capture the spiritual and emotional essence of the natural world and human experience.