William Cowper

Born in 1731 in Hertfordshire, William Cowper was educated at Westminster School and later trained for the law, though he never fully settled into legal life. Instead, he became one of the most admired English poets of his age, writing with unusual warmth, clarity, and attention to ordinary domestic scenes.

Cowper’s life was marked by long periods of severe depression, and those struggles shaped both his friendships and his writing. He found support in a close circle that included the clergyman John Newton, with whom he worked on Olney Hymns. His poetry often brings together deep religious feeling, sharp observation, and a quiet sympathy for human weakness.

Today he is remembered for major works such as The Task and for poems that helped prepare the way for the Romantic movement. His writing stood out in its time for sounding intimate and natural, making room for solitude, nature, and the inner life in a new way.