50 Facts About William Wordsworth

  1. William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumbria, England.
  2. He was the second of five children in the Wordsworth family.
  3. Wordsworth was educated at Hawkshead Grammar School and St. John’s College, Cambridge.
  4. He is known as one of the major English Romantic poets, along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats.
  5. Wordsworth’s poetry is characterized by a focus on nature and the role of the imagination in understanding the natural world.
  6. He is best known for his poems “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” “The Prelude,” and “The Daffodils.”
  7. Wordsworth’s poetry was influenced by the French Revolution and the political upheaval it caused.
  8. He was a close friend of Coleridge and the two often worked on poetry together.
  9. Wordsworth’s sister Dorothy was also a poet, and the two often worked together and inspired each other’s work.
  10. In 1795, Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy moved to the Lake District in England, where they spent the majority of their lives.
  11. Wordsworth’s poetry often reflects his love for the natural beauty of the Lake District.
  12. He was appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1843, a position he held until his death in 1850.
  13. Wordsworth was married to Mary Hutchinson, and the couple had five children together.
  14. He was a strong advocate for the rights of the poor and working class, and his poetry often addresses social and political issues.
  15. Wordsworth was a pioneer of the “Romantic movement” in English literature, which emphasized emotion, imagination, and nature.
  16. He was a mentor to a number of younger poets, including John Keats and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
  17. Wordsworth’s poems are known for their use of simple, everyday language and their focus on the beauty and power of nature.
  18. He was a strong believer in the power of the individual and the importance of personal freedom.
  19. Wordsworth’s work was initially not well received by the literary establishment, but it has since come to be highly regarded and influential.
  20. In addition to poetry, he also wrote prose works, including a guide to the Lakes and a memoir of his childhood.
  21. Wordsworth was close friends with a number of other notable figures of the time, including the painter William Turner and the philosopher Jeremy Bentham.
  22. He was a strong supporter of the abolition of slavery and the rights of women.
  23. Wordsworth was interested in the relationship between the individual and society, and many of his poems explore this theme.
  24. He was a firm believer in the power of the imagination and the importance of creativity in human life.
  25. Wordsworth’s poetry often reflects his belief in the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of compassion and understanding.
  26. He was an avid reader and was influenced by the works of Shakespeare, Milton, and the Bible.
  27. Wordsworth was a nature lover and spent much of his time walking and exploring the outdoors.
  28. He was known for his love of solitude and his preference for the simple life.
  29. Wordsworth was a philanthropist and donated a significant portion of his income to charitable causes.
  30. He was a strong believer in education and the power of knowledge to transform lives.
  1. Wordsworth was a passionate advocate for the rights of animals and opposed hunting and cruelty towards animals.
  2. He was a vocal critic of the Industrial Revolution and the negative impact it had on the natural world.
  3. Wordsworth’s poetry often reflects his belief in the importance of the natural world and the need to preserve it.
  4. He was a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and supported various animal welfare causes.
  5. Wordsworth was a strong supporter of the temperance movement, which promoted moderation and abstinence from alcohol.
  6. He was a member of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, which worked to combat immorality and corruption in society.
  7. Wordsworth was an active supporter of various social and political causes, including prison reform and the abolition of the slave trade.
  8. Wordsworth was a strong advocate for the rights of women and supported the suffrage movement.
  9. He was a member of the Society for the Relief of Distressed Poets, which provided financial assistance to struggling writers.
  10. Wordsworth was a mentor to a number of young poets, including John Keats and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
  11. He was a member of the Literary Society of Manchester, a group of intellectuals and writers who met to discuss literature and current events.
  12. Wordsworth was a strong advocate for the rights of the poor and worked to improve living conditions for the working class.
  13. Wordsworth was a vocal critic of the Napoleonic Wars and the impact they had on society.
  14. He was a pacifist and believed in the power of diplomacy and negotiation to resolve conflicts.
  15. Wordsworth was a strong supporter of the arts and believed in the power of literature and music to inspire and uplift people.
  16. He was a member of the Royal Society of Literature and served as its president from 1849 until his death in 1850.
  17. Wordsworth’s poetry was translated into numerous languages and has been widely read and studied around the world.
  18. He was awarded numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to literature, including the Order of Merit and the Order of the Bath.
  19. Wordsworth’s legacy as a poet and humanitarian continues to be celebrated today, with numerous statues, memorials, and tributes to his life and work.

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