Poet Laureate

A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, who is often expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. The title was sometimes conferred by certain universities.


Unofficial Poet Laureates

1616-1637: Ben Jonson

1638-1668: Sir William D’Avenant

Official Poet Laureates

1668–1689: John Dryden

1689–1692: Thomas Shadwell

1692–1715: Nahum Tate

1715–1718: Nicholas Rowe

1718–1730: Laurence Eusden

1730–1757: Colley Cibber

1757–1785: William Whitehead

1785–1790: Thomas Warton

1790–1813: Henry James Pye

1813–1843: Robert Southey

1843–1850: William Wordsworth

1850–1892: Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1896–1913: Alfred Austin

1913–1930: Robert Bridges

1930–1967: John Masefield

1968–1972: Cecil Day-Lewis

1972–1984: Sir John Betjeman

1984–1998: Ted Hughes

1999–2009: Andrew Motion

2009–        : Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy is the first woman poet laureate of Great Britain.