Robert Southey

Robert Southey was a British poet, historian, and biographer. He was born on August 12, 1774, in Bristol, England. Southey was appointed Poet Laureate in 1843 and served until his death in 1845. He was known for his historical and biographical works, including the lives of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Southey was also a prolific poet, and his works include the famous poem 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. He was a prominent figure in the Romantic movement and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1813. Southey was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery and was a vocal critic of the British government's policies towards Ireland. He died on March 21, 1843, at the age of 68.