Arthur O'Shaughnessy
A Victorian poet whose ode to dreamers became an anthem, set to music by composers from Elgar to Aphex Twin.
1844–1881 (age 37)·British poet·Birthday: March 14
Biography
Arthur O'Shaughnessy lived a quiet double life in the British Museum, where he worked as a herpetologist cataloguing reptiles and fish by day. By night, he moved in Pre-Raphaelite circles, crafting verses that yearned for beauty and transcendence. His 1874 collection 'Music and Moonlight' contained his masterpiece, 'Ode', a poem that begins with the now-immortal lines 'We are the music makers.' Its celebration of artists as world-forgers resonated far beyond his short life, finding musical form in works by Edward Elgar and, a century later, in electronic music. O'Shaughnessy's own world was small—he published little and died at thirty-six—but his words achieved a rhythmic, prophetic power that continues to inspire.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1844
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1844Born
1849Started school
1857Became a teenager
1860Could drive
1862Could vote
President: Abraham Lincoln
1865Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1874Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1881Died at 37
President: Chester A. Arthur
Key Achievements
- Wrote the poem 'Ode', famous for its opening lines 'We are the music makers, / And we are the dreamers of dreams.'
- Published the poetry collection 'Music and Moonlight' in 1874.
- Worked as a herpetologist in the zoology department of the British Museum.
- His poem 'Ode' has been set to music by numerous composers across different genres.
Did You Know?
He was a first cousin of the woman's suffrage campaigner and poet, Eleanor Marx.
He began his career at the British Museum at age 17.
The musical adaptation of his 'Ode' is often performed by choirs and known as 'The Fiddler of Dooney'.
He married and had a daughter, but his wife died only four years later.
“We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams.”
