Andrew Marvell
A metaphysical poet who penned the immortal carpe diem lines 'To His Coy Mistress' while navigating the treacherous politics of England's civil war.
1621–1678 (age 57)·English poet and politician·Birthday: March 31
Biography
Andrew Marvell lived a double life with seamless grace. By day, he was a Member of Parliament and a trusted civil servant during the Cromwellian protectorate, even assisting his friend John Milton. By night (or perhaps in stolen moments), he composed some of the most enduring and intellectually playful verse in the English language. His poems, like 'The Garden' and 'Upon Appleton House,' celebrate pastoral retreat with lush, complex imagery, while 'An Horatian Ode' offers a famously ambivalent tribute to Oliver Cromwell's power. His masterpiece, 'To His Coy Mistress,' transforms a classical seduction argument into a breathtaking meditation on time and desire. After the Restoration, Marvell survived politically, serving as an MP and writing sharp satires against the government. He managed to be both a man of practical affairs and a poet of exquisite subtlety, his work echoing through the centuries for its blend of wit, passion, and profound thought.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1621
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1621Born
1626Started school
1634Became a teenager
1637Could drive
1639Could vote
1642Turned 21
1651Turned 30
1661Turned 40
1671Turned 50
1678Died at 57
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'To His Coy Mistress,' one of the most famous carpe diem poems in the English language.
- Served as a Member of Parliament for Hull during the Restoration period.
- Was John Milton's assistant and likely helped prevent the blind poet's execution after the Restoration.
- Authored influential political satires like 'The Character of Holland' and 'Last Instructions to a Painter.'
Did You Know?
For over two centuries, he was primarily known as a satirist and politician; his lyric poetry was rediscovered in the 19th century.
He traveled extensively in Europe as a tutor in his younger years.
His death was sudden and rumors of poisoning circulated, though likely unfounded.
The metaphysical poets, including Marvell, were a major influence on T.S. Eliot.
““Had we but world enough and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime.””
