William Wordsworth Biography

(1770-1850) British writer. William Wordsworth is perhaps best known for his collaborative efforts with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a relationship that culminated in the publication of "Lyrical Ballads" (1798). This great work marked the beginning of the Romantic era. Read more about the life and works of William Wordsworth.

William Wordsworth was born at Cockermouth in the Lake District of Cumberland on April 7, 1770. His father was a lawyer named John Wordworth. His mother died when he was eight.

Then five years later, his father died without leaving much of a legacy (besides the debt that had been owed to him by the Earl of Lonsdale, which didn't materialize for Wordsworth until 1802).

William Wordsworth died on April 13, 1850. At the time of his death, Wordsworth was considered by many to be the greatest poet in the world.

On October 4, 1802, Wordsworth married his childhood friend, Mary Hutchinson. They had five children, with the first born in 1803. That same year, Wordsworth met and became friends with Sir Walter Scott, Sir George Beaumont, and Robert Southey.

William Wordsworth entered St. John's College, Cambridge in 1787, with the help of his uncles. His grades were mediocre, but he finally received his BA in January of 1791, without any real prospect of permanent employment.

William Wordsworth traveled to France, and associated with revolutionaries. Besides learning the French language, Wordsworth courted Annette Vallon, who became pregnant and gave birth to Anne Caroline.

Wordsworth also traveled to Switzerland.

William Wordsworth finally received an inheritance in 1795, which allowed him to devote himself to his poetry. In August of 1795, he also met and became friends with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. During the following years, Wordsworth and Coleridge spent time writing poetry, discussing theories of poetry, and offering critiques of one another's poetic works.

Wordsworth and Coleridge had a falling out in 1810, which wasn't rectified for several years.

"But Man is thy most awful instrument
In working out a pure intent,
Thou cloth'st the wicked in their dazzling mail,
And for thy righteous purpose they prevail."

"In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to the mind."

"Not seldom clad in radiant vest
Deceitfully goes forth the dawn,
Not seldom evening in the west
Sinks smilingly forsworn."

"Impulses of deeper birth
Have come to him in solitude."

"The harvest of a quiet eye,
That broods and sleeps on his own heart."

"One that would peep and botanize
Upon his mother's grave."

"The very flowers are sacred to the poor."
- "Admonition"

"Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on,
Through words and things, a dim and perilous way."
- "Borderers"

"He knows but from its shade the present hour."
- "An Evening Walk"

In "Lyrical Ballads," we read: "Poetry is the breath and finer spirit of all knowledge; it is the impassioned expression which is in the countenance of all Science."

From an early age, Wordsworth had a great appreciation for nature. His sister, Dorthy, was also an inspiration to his writings. A philosophical and autobiographical poem, published posthumously as "The Prelude" offers some insight:

"Dust as we are, the immortal spirit grows
Like harmony in music; there is a dark
Inscrutable workmanship that reconciles
Discordant elements, makes them cling together
In one society."

In 1813, Wordsworth took the post of Distributor of Stamps for Westmorland. The new post provided greater financial stability, though he was criticized for selling out. Even with his new post, and with traveling, he continued to write poetry. He also became further involved in politics.

In 1839, he was named an honorary Doctor of Civil Law at Oxford. In 1843, on the death of Southey, Wordsworth was named Poet Laureate.