Francis Turner Palgrave
He gave Victorian readers their most beloved poetry anthology, a golden treasury that shaped the nation's taste for generations.
1824–1897 (age 73)·British critic·Birthday: September 28
Biography
Francis Turner Palgrave was a man of quiet but immense influence in the literary world of 19th-century Britain. The son of a historian, he moved in elite intellectual circles from a young age, counting Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as a close friend. While he worked as a civil servant and later as a professor of poetry at Oxford, his lasting legacy was born from a simple, powerful idea: to compile the very best lyrical poems in the English language. The result, 'The Golden Treasury', published in 1861, was an instant and enduring success. More than a mere collection, it was a carefully curated argument for a national poetic canon, guiding readers for decades on what was considered beautiful and worthy. Palgrave’s own poetry and criticism have faded, but his role as a tastemaker, the discreet editor who placed a certain kind of romantic and lyrical verse at the heart of British cultural life, remains his true monument.
#1 When Francis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1824
Francis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1824Born
1829Started school
1837Became a teenager
1840Could drive
1842Could vote
1845Turned 21
1854Turned 30
1864Turned 40
President: Abraham Lincoln
1874Turned 50
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1884Turned 60
President: Chester A. Arthur
1894Turned 70
President: Grover Cleveland
1897Died at 73
President: William McKinley
Key Achievements
- Published 'The Golden Treasury' in 1861, an anthology that became the standard collection of English lyric poetry for generations.
- Served as Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford from 1885 to 1895.
- Was a close friend and literary advisor to the Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Did You Know?
His father, Sir Francis Palgrave, was a noted medieval historian and Deputy Keeper of the Public Records.
Before focusing on literature, he worked for several decades in the Education Department of the British civil service.
He was originally named 'Francis Turner' but adopted his mother's maiden name, Palgrave, later in life.
“A true anthology must gather only the most perfect gems of verse.”
