Robert Southey

Robert Southey (12 August 1774 – 21 March 1843) was an English poet of the Romantic school, and Poet Laureate from 1813 until his death. He was born in Bristol, England, and was educated at Westminster School and Oxford University.

Southey was a prolific writer, and his works include poems, histories, biographies, and travelogues. He is best known for his poems The Curse of Kehama (1810) and Thalaba the Destroyer (1801), and his historical works The History of Portugal (1809) and The History of Brazil (1810-1819).

Southey was a staunch conservative, and his political views often clashed with those of his fellow Romantic poets, such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was also a strong supporter of the slave trade, and his views on this issue have been criticized by modern scholars.

Despite his political views, Southey was a respected figure in his own time, and he was awarded the Poet Laureateship in 1813. He held this position until his death in 1843.

Southey's Principles

Southey was a complex and contradictory figure, and his principles were often inconsistent. However, some of his core beliefs included:

• The importance of tradition and history
• The importance of religious faith
• The importance of social order and stability
• The importance of patriotism
• The importance of the individual

Southey's Notable Works

In addition to the poems The Curse of Kehama and Thalaba the Destroyer, Southey's other notable works include:

• The Vision of Judgment (1821): A satirical poem that attacks the liberal Whig government of Lord Liverpool.
• The Life of Nelson (1813): A biography of the British naval hero Horatio Nelson.
• The Doctor (1834-1836): A novel about a group of friends who live in a utopian community.
• The Poet's Pilgrimage to Waterloo (1816): A travelogue about Southey's visit to the battlefield of Waterloo.

Southey's Philosophy

Southey's philosophy was a complex and eclectic mix of ideas. He was influenced by a wide range of thinkers, including Edmund Burke, William Wordsworth, and Thomas Carlyle.

Southey's philosophy was based on the belief that the individual is part of a larger whole, such as a family, a community, or a nation. He believed that the individual should subordinate their own interests to the good of the larger whole.

Southey also believed in the importance of tradition and history. He believed that the past should be respected and that it should inform the present.

Southey's Death and Legacy

Southey died in Keswick, England, in 1843. He is remembered as a major figure in the Romantic movement, and his works continue to be read and studied today.

Interesting Facts about Robert Southey

• Southey was a prolific writer, and he is estimated to have written over 500,000 words in his lifetime.
• Southey was a vegetarian, and he was a strong advocate for animal rights.
• Southey was a lifelong opponent of the slave trade, and he was instrumental in the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
• Southey was a close friend of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and the two men lived together for a time in Bristol.
• Southey was a controversial figure in his own time, and his political views were often criticized. However, he is now considered to be one of the major figures in the Romantic movement.