1599

Edmund Spenser

Categories: Poetry

Countries: Ireland

Poet. Probably born in East or West Smithfield. Best known for the epic poem 'The Faerie Queene'. When Queen Elizabeth failed to arrange payment ("a reason") for a poem he wrote:

I was promis'd on a time,
To have a reason for my rhyme:
But from that time unto this season,
I had neither rhyme or reason.

1580 began work as an administrator in Ireland where he lived until his death, returning to England regularly. He published nothing during his first 10 years there. Died Westminster.

In 1938 his tomb in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner was opened by people searching for items, such as pens, supposedly placed there at the time of his burial, by other poets, such as Shakespeare. Nothing was found.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Edmund Spenser

Commemorated ati

Islington Library - Spenser

{In the sculptured panel below his feet:} Spenser

Old Westminster Library - head 1 - Spenser

We first thought Francis Bacon but he normally has more hair, and, so far, al...

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Edmund Spenser

Creations i

Nell Gwynne - Sloane Square

She's manipulating a fan but meanwhile, unnoticed by Nell, her dress has slip...

See other memorials in this area

Other Subjects

Sir Walter Raleigh

Courtier, explorer, author and puddle-coverer. Born Devon. Became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and explored Virginia, America, for her, enabling its colonisation. Briefly imprisoned in the T...

Person, Exploring, Poetry, Politics & Administration, Seriously Famous, USA

3 memorials

Ben Okri

Poet and novelist. Born Nigeria but spent his early childhood in London. Returned to England to study in the late 1970s. His 1991 novel 'The Famished Road' won the Booker Prize.

Person, Literature, Poetry, Nigeria

1 memorial

Thomas Hood

Born 31 Poultry and died at home in Devonshire Lodge, London. Example: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms, But a cannon-ball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms."

Person, Humour, Poetry

4 memorials

Geoffrey Dearmer

Poet, writer and radio broadcaster. Born 59 South Lambeth Road, son of Percy and Mabel. Served in WW1. Wrote 'The Turkish Trench Dog'. Died at home in Kent where he had moved on the death of his ...

Person, Poetry, TV & Radio

1 memorial

Edward de Vere

17th Earl of Oxford. Possibly born at Castle Hedingham, Essex. He wrote poetry and was a court favourite. Since the 1920s, he has been among the alternative candidates for the authorship of Shakes...

Person, Poetry

2 memorials