ANDREW MARVELL MARCH 31, 1621 - AUGUST 16, 1678
“But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near.” - Andrew Marvell, in "To His Coy Mistress"
Andrew Marvell was a gifted metaphysical poet who lived in England. Much of his work was satirical, criticizing the court and Parliament, but a lot of his poetry was more profound. His well-known works include "To His Coy Mistress," "Upon Appleton House," and "The Garden."
“But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near.” - Andrew Marvell, in "To His Coy Mistress"
Andrew Marvell was a gifted metaphysical poet who lived in England. Much of his work was satirical, criticizing the court and Parliament, but a lot of his poetry was more profound. His well-known works include "To His Coy Mistress," "Upon Appleton House," and "The Garden."
Relatively little of Marvell's life is known. Much of his literature was unpublished, and historians can only speculate about the majority of his personal life. Only forty-five of his personal letters survive, a very low number in comparison to other people of the time. Therefore, historians are forced to reveal Marvell's life and intellectual perspective through his literary works because so little of his past is known. In fact, Marvell, an influential poet and politician, was called 'the least known of our major poets,' by J.P. Kenyon.
Born in 1621 in the town of Winestead-in-Holderness, Yorkshire, Marvell was the son of Rev. Andrew Marvell and his wife Anne. Little is known of his early life. When young Andrew was three, the family moved to the village of Hull, where his father was a lecturer at the Holy Trinity Church.
Marvell was probably educated at the Hull Grammar School. In 1633, at the age of twelve, he became a sizar at Trinity College in Cambridge. In 1638, Marvell received his B.A. Just a few days after this accomplishment, his mom passed away. Marvell stayed in Cambridge until his father drowned in 1640.
Following these tragedies, Marvell left Trinity College. While it's unclear what he did during this time, it is possible that he held a clerkship at his brother-in-law, Edmund Popple's, trading house from 1640-1642. After that, he went abroad, travelling in France, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy from around 1642-1646. Historians don't know when he returned to England. A possible estimate is that Marvell came home in 1649. This is believed only because two of his poems were published that year.
From there, Marvell's life is slightly clearer. From 1650-1653, he was the tutor of twelve-year-old Mary Fairfax, later to become the Duchess of Buckingham. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Fairfax, the retired Lord General of the parliamentary forces. Living comfortably, Marvell wrote several of his non-satirical poems, including his most profound work, "Upon Appleton House." Some believe this poem to be an important part of his development as a man and as a poet. Other works he may have written during this time are "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Definition of Love."
After this, Marvell was appointed by Oliver Cromwell as a tutor for William Dutton, one of Cromwell's wards. In 1657, Marvell held the position of Latin secretary for John Milton. The two had met in 1653, and Milton, who was now blind, employed Marvell until 1660. Their friendship would prove useful later, when Marvell used his political status to free Milton from imprisonment and possible execution.
In 1659, Marvell was elected as a Member of Parliament. He represented his hometown of Hull until his death. During this time, he made two diplomatic journeys: one to Holland (1662-1663) and one to Russia, Sweden and Denmark (1663-1665).
In 1678, Marvell caught a sudden fever. Gossip at the time suggested that the Jesuits poisoned him, because they were the target of some of Marvell's satirical work. Marvell died on August 16th and was buried in the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.
Born in 1621 in the town of Winestead-in-Holderness, Yorkshire, Marvell was the son of Rev. Andrew Marvell and his wife Anne. Little is known of his early life. When young Andrew was three, the family moved to the village of Hull, where his father was a lecturer at the Holy Trinity Church.
Marvell was probably educated at the Hull Grammar School. In 1633, at the age of twelve, he became a sizar at Trinity College in Cambridge. In 1638, Marvell received his B.A. Just a few days after this accomplishment, his mom passed away. Marvell stayed in Cambridge until his father drowned in 1640.
Following these tragedies, Marvell left Trinity College. While it's unclear what he did during this time, it is possible that he held a clerkship at his brother-in-law, Edmund Popple's, trading house from 1640-1642. After that, he went abroad, travelling in France, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy from around 1642-1646. Historians don't know when he returned to England. A possible estimate is that Marvell came home in 1649. This is believed only because two of his poems were published that year.
From there, Marvell's life is slightly clearer. From 1650-1653, he was the tutor of twelve-year-old Mary Fairfax, later to become the Duchess of Buckingham. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Fairfax, the retired Lord General of the parliamentary forces. Living comfortably, Marvell wrote several of his non-satirical poems, including his most profound work, "Upon Appleton House." Some believe this poem to be an important part of his development as a man and as a poet. Other works he may have written during this time are "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Definition of Love."
After this, Marvell was appointed by Oliver Cromwell as a tutor for William Dutton, one of Cromwell's wards. In 1657, Marvell held the position of Latin secretary for John Milton. The two had met in 1653, and Milton, who was now blind, employed Marvell until 1660. Their friendship would prove useful later, when Marvell used his political status to free Milton from imprisonment and possible execution.
In 1659, Marvell was elected as a Member of Parliament. He represented his hometown of Hull until his death. During this time, he made two diplomatic journeys: one to Holland (1662-1663) and one to Russia, Sweden and Denmark (1663-1665).
In 1678, Marvell caught a sudden fever. Gossip at the time suggested that the Jesuits poisoned him, because they were the target of some of Marvell's satirical work. Marvell died on August 16th and was buried in the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.