Poets Laureate of the United Kingdom Quiz

The first official Poet Laureate of England was John Dryden (1631-1700), who was appointed by King Charles II in 1668. His role was to provide verse to celebrate royal and national occasions, and this is something that is expected of his successors too. Dryden was dismissed from the role in 1689 when he (as a convert to Catholicism) refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to Charles' successors, William and Mary, who were both Protestants.

Dryden was succeeded by Thomas Shadwell, who held the post until his death in 1692.

The third individual to hold the post was Nahum Tate (1652-1715), who served for 23 years. Tate is best remembered now as the librettist of Henry Purcell's opera "Dido and Aeneas" but was famous in his day for his somewhat broad adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, including a version of "King Lear" with a happy ending in which Cordelia marries Edgar and Lear regains his throne.

After Tate came Nicholas Rowe (Laureate from 1715-18) and Laurence Eusden (Laureate 1718-30), both now largely forgotten.

Colley Cibber (1671-1757) was an English actor, playwright, and theatre manager, who became the sixth Poet Laureate in 1730, following the death of Laurence Eusden. He was known for his flamboyant personality and satirical works, as well as managing the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. While his appointment as Laureate was controversial among his literary contemporaries, Cibber's legacy endures through his contributions to the 18th-century London stage and his autobiographical work, "An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber".

Cibber was succeeded by William Whitehead, who held the post until his death in 1785. After him came Thomas Warton (Laureate for just five years from 1785 to 1790), and Henry James Pye, the ninth to hold the title, who died in 1813.

The tenth Poet Laureate, Robert Southey (1774-1843), served from 1813 until his death in 1843, making him one of the longest-serving holders of the post. A prominent figure of the Romantic movement, Southey was known for his narrative poems such as "The Battle of Blenheim" and "Madoc".

Although his reputation has been somewhat overshadowed by contemporaries like Wordsworth and Coleridge, Southey's work as Laureate included numerous poems commemorating royal events and national occasions, and he played a significant role in shaping the literary culture of his era.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was appointed as the eleventh Poet Laureate in 1843, following the death of Robert Southey. Renowned as one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, Wordsworth is celebrated for his deep appreciation of nature, as reflected in many of his poems. During his tenure as Laureate, he produced relatively few official verses for royal occasions, but his influence on English poetry remains profound, thanks to works such as "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" and his collaboration with Samuel Taylor Coleridge on "Lyrical Ballads".

Laureate number twelve, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was appointed in 1850, following Wordsworth's death, and held the position for more than forty years. Known for his lyrical mastery and evocative imagery, Tennyson penned some of the most enduring poems in English literature, including "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and "In Memoriam A.H.H." His tenure as Laureate saw him compose a number of verses for significant national occasions.

Tennyson was succeeded by Alfred Austin, who was Laureate between 1896 and 1913, covering the period between the last years of Queen Victoria's reign and the eve of the Great War.

Robert Bridges (1844-1930) served as Poet Laureate from 1913 until his death in 1930. Bridges trained as a doctor but had to retire in 1885 following a serious lung disease, after which he was able to devote himself to his writing. Bridges has become somewhat forgotten in the twenty-first century, and he is perhaps best remembered now for his hymns, both original and translated.

He was succeeded by John Masefield, whose 37-year tenure from 1930 to 1967 is second only to Tennyson. Masefield's successor, Cecil Day-Lewis, served only four years before his death in 1972.

John Betjeman (1906-1984) served as Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984. Renowned for his accessible yet poignant verse, Betjeman captured the humour, nostalgia, and charm of English life, often celebrating the landscapes, architecture, and idiosyncrasies of the nation.

His popularity endured throughout his lifetime, making him one of the best-loved Laureates of the twentieth century.

Ted Hughes (1930-1998) was appointed as the 18th Poet Laureate in 1984 and held the position until his death in 1998. Widely regarded as one of the greatest British poets of the twentieth century, Hughes was known for his powerful, elemental verse, often drawing inspiration from nature and myth. His tenure as Laureate saw him produce a number of works for royal occasions, and he got on well with members of the Royal family, especially the Queen Mother, who shared his love of the countryside. He is perhaps best remembered for collections such as "The Hawk in the Rain" and "Birthday Letters", the latter offering a moving insight into his relationship with Sylvia Plath.

Hughes was succeeded in 1999 by Andrew Motion. At this point, it was decided that holders should serve for a ten-year period only, allowing a greater turnover of personnel, so Motion retired in 2009.

Carol Ann Duffy served as Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2019, making history as the first woman to hold the post. In carrying out her official role, she made a point of writing about subjects that would resonate with the general reader, including the 2009 MPs expenses scandal, David Beckham's Achilles tendon injury (2010), and the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. More traditionally, she wrote a verse for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

Duffy's term came to an end in 2019, and she was succeeded by Simon Armitage, who became the 21st person to hold the role since 1668.