Jacques Delille
A French poet who captivated Europe with verses on nature, surviving revolution and exile to become a literary celebrity of his age.
1738–1813 (age 75)·Birthday: June 22
Biography
Jacques Delille climbed to fame not with wild romanticism, but with polished, descriptive verse that made the natural world a subject of grand poetry. His 1769 translation of Virgil's 'Georgics' was a sensation, praised for its elegance and earning him a seat in the Académie Française. He solidified his reputation with original didactic poems like 'Les Jardins,' which offered elaborate advice on landscape gardening and charmed a society fascinated by pastoral ideals. The French Revolution upended his life; his aristocratic connections forced him into exile across Europe, including a period in London where he was feted by literary society. Returning to France under Napoleon, he continued to write, though his later, more philosophical work failed to capture the public's imagination as his earlier celebrations of nature had. Delille's legacy is that of a master craftsman of verse who, for a time, made the description of gardens and seasons a nationally admired art.
#1 When Jacques Was Born
The biggest hits of 1738
Jacques's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1738Born
1743Started school
1751Became a teenager
1754Could drive
1756Could vote
1759Turned 21
1768Turned 30
1778Turned 40
1788Turned 50
1798Turned 60
1808Turned 70
1813Died at 75
Key Achievements
- Achieved early fame and election to the Académie Française with his 1769 translation of Virgil's 'Georgics'.
- Published the highly influential didactic poem 'Les Jardins' in 1782, a bestseller on the art of gardening.
- Maintained his literary career through the French Revolution, despite being forced into a decade of exile.
- Was one of the first French poets to gain significant recognition and popularity in England during his exile.
Did You Know?
He was born with the surname Montanier but later adopted the name Delille from an uncle.
He lost most of his eyesight in his later years but continued to compose poetry by dictation.
During the Revolution, he escaped the September Massacres by hiding in the home of a friend.
His poem 'La Pitié' (1803) was a rare contemporary poetic treatment of the subject of charity and human suffering.
“I paint gardens with words, making nature's order rhyme.”
