Profile of the Day: William Wordsworth

Do you enjoy reading poetry? On this day in 1770, English Romantic poet William Wordsworth was born in the Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, England.

Image: William Wordsworth / National Library of Wales

Although orphaned by the age of 13, Wordsworth’s parents encouraged his education. He wrote his first pieces of poetry while in grammar school and went on to study at Cambridge. Before his final semester, he went on a walking tour of Europe. The experience deepened his love of nature, a theme that was often reflected in his poetry.

Wordsworth’s The Prelude is generally considered to be his greatest masterpiece. A semi-autobiographical poem, Prelude was revised and expanded a number of times over many years. It was finally published several months after his death on April 23, 1850.

Explore William Wordsworth’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the poet.