English Poets Laureate

Appointed for life, the English Poet Laureate has traditionally been charged with writing verses to commemorate royal birthdays and occasions of national significance.

• Alfred Austin (born 1835, died 1913)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1896-1913
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson (born 1809, died 1892)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1850-92
• Andrew Bernard

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1485-1509
• Cecil Day Lewis (born 1904, died 1972)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1967-72
• Colley Cibber (born 1671, died 1757)

  English poet and playwright.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1730-57
• Geoffrey Chaucer (born 1340, died 1400)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1389-1400
• Henry J. Pye (born 1745, died 1813)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1790-1813
• John Kay

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1461-83
• John Skelton (born 1460, died 1529)

  English satiric poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1509-29
• John Masefield (born 1878, died 1967)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1930-67
• John Betjeman (born 1906, died 1984)

  British poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1972-84
• Laurence Eusden (born 1688, died 1730)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1718-30
• Nahum Tate (born 1652, died 1715)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1692-1715
• Nicholas Rowe (born 1674, died 1718)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1715-18
• Robert Southey (born 1774, died 1843)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1813-43
• Robert Bridges (born 1844, died 1930)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1913-30
• Samuel Daniel (born 1562, died 1619)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1599-1619
• Thomas Shadwell (born 1642, died 1692)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1688-92
• Thomas Warton (born 1728, died 1790)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1785-90
• William D'Avenant (born 1606, died 1668)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1637-68
• William Whitehead (born 1715, died 1785)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1757-85
• William Wordsworth (born 1770, died 1850)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1843-50
• Ted Hughes (born 1930)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1984-
• Edmund Spenser (born 1552, died 1599)

  English poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1591-99
• Ben Jonson (born 1573, died 1637)

  English playwright and poet.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1619-37
• John Dryden (born 1631, died 1700)

  English poet, playwright, translator and critic.

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1670-88
• Andrew Motion (born 1952)

  British poet

  • Poet Laureate of England, 1999 -