William Wordsworth 1770 - 1850
William Wordsworth , English Romantic poet and Poet Laureate of England 1843-50. Venn's entry reads: WORDSWORTH, WILLIAM College: ST JOHN'S Entered: Michs. 1787 Born: Died: Apr. 23, 1850 Adm. sizar at ST JOHN'S, July 5, 1787. [2nd] s. of John [attorney-at-law], of [Cockermouth], Cumberland (and Anne, dau. of William Cookson, mercer, of Penrith). [B. Apr. 7, 1770, at Cockermouth.] School, Hawkshead. Matric. Michs. 1787; Scholar, 1787; B.A. 1791. Travelled in France, 1791-2, where he became an ardent supporter of the revolution. In 1794, received a legacy of £900, which enabled him to live independently, `but for this, he might, he says, have been forced into the Church or the law.' Settled at Racedown, near Crewkerne, Somerset, with his sister, Dorothy, 1795. Moved to Alfoxden, near Nether Stowey in order to be near Coleridge, whom he first met in 1795. Coleridge had the highest opinion of Wordsworth's work, and praises his `exquisite sister,' saying `we are three people, but only one soul.' The Lyrical Ballads, published 1798, were the first fruits of this friendship, Wordsworth contributing the greater part. With Dorothy and Coleridge, visited Germany, 1798. Settled at Dove Cottage, Grasmere, 1799; Coleridge followed in 1800, residing at Keswick. Married, Oct. 4, 1802, his old school friend, Mary, dau. of John Hutchinson, of Penrith. Finished The Prelude, 1805 (but it was not printed till after his death). Published a collection of Poems, 1807, including the Intimations of Immortality, the Ode to Duty, and other works, many of which aroused a `storm of ridicule.' Moved to Allan Bank, Grasmere, 1808. The Excursion published 1814, and acclaimed as his masterpiece. Estranged from Coleridge, 1810, but reconciled, 1817. Subsequently at Rydal Mount, near Ambleside. Distributor of stamps for Westmorland, 1813-22. Hon. D.C.L., Durham, 1838; Hon. D.C.L., Oxford, 1839. Poet Laureate, 1843-50. Granted a Civil List pension of £300 in 1842. Died Apr. 23, 1850, at Rydal Mount. Monument in Grasmere churchyard, `To the memory of William Wordsworth. A true poet and philosopher, who by special gift and calling of Almighty God, whether he discoursed on man or nature, failed not to lift up the heart to holy things, tired not of maintaining the cause of the poor and simple, and so in perilous times was raised up to be a chief minister, not only of noblest poetry, but of high and sacred truth.' Father of John (1821); brother of Christopher (1791). (St John's Coll. Adm., IV. 572; G. Mag.,1850, I. 668; D.N.B.; Wordsworth at Cambridge.)
|
| Born: Wordsworth House, Main Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, England 7th Apr 1770 | Baptised:
| | Died: Rydal Mount, Ambleside, Cumbria, England 23rd Apr 1850 | Buried: St Oswald's Church, Grasmere, Cumbria, England
| | Family: Wordsworth |
|