Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

John Masefield

Role / Field:

Renowned English poet, celebrated for verse and his tenure as Poet Laureate.

Born:

1878-06-01

Died:

1967-05-12

Century / Era:

1878s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

John Edward Masefield, OM (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer. He was Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967, during which time he lived at Burcot, Oxfordshire, near Abingdon-on-Thames. Among his best known works are the children's novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights, and the poems "The Everlasting Mercy" and "Sea-Fever". Shortly after his death his house (Burcote Brook) burned down and was later replaced by a Cheshire Home named after him.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Masefield was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire, to George Masefield, a solicitor, and his wife Caroline (née Parker). He was baptised in the Church at Preston Cross, just outside Ledbury. His mother died giving birth to his sister when Masefield was six, and he went to live with his aunt. His father died soon afterwards, following a mental breakdown. After a very happy education at the King's School in Warwick (now known as Warwick School where he even had a building named after him), where he was a boarder between 1888 and 1891, he left to board HMS Conway, both to train for a life at sea and to break his addiction to reading, of which his aunt thought little.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He spent...

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Frequently Asked Questions about John Masefield