Birth date: 
1563
Death date: 
1631
Birth town: 
Warwickshire
Country: 
England

Drayton was born at Hartshill in Warwickshire and as a youth he became page to Sir Henry Goodere of Polesworth. He fell in love with Sir Henry's daughter, Anne, and worshipped her as 'Idea' in his poetry. Even after her marriage to Sir Henry Rainford he continued to celebrate her charms in verse, and he never married.

He had wanted to be a poet from the age of ten, and achieved his ambition through hard work and a succession of noble patrons, in spite of some ill-fortune. His first work was a verse paraphrase of parts of the Old Testament and Apocrypha, The Harmony of the Church. Ironically, the Harmony caused offence among the authorities and was banned. When James I became king in 1603 Drayton angled for royal favour with To the Majesty of King James: a Gratulatory Poem. Unfortunately he omitted to include the customary tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, and this gaffe probably cost him an appointment at court.

In spite of this setback, Drayton had a fairly successful career as a poet, and he counted Ben Jonson and William Drummond of Hawthornden among his friends.

Poems by this Poet

Displaying 81 - 90 of 375
Poemsort descending Post date Rating Comments
Christopher Marlowe - 19 May 2014
3.5
Average: 3.5 (2 votes)
0
David and Goliah 19 May 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Duke Humphrey to Elinor Cobham - 19 May 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Eclogue - 19 May 2014
5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
0
Edward the Black Prince to Alice Countesse of Salisburie - 19 May 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Edward the Fourth to Mistres Shore - 19 May 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Elegie Upon the Death of the Lady Penelope Clifton, An 5 September 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Elinor Cobham to Duke Humphrey - 19 May 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Endimion and Phoebe 5 September 2014
0
No votes yet
0
Endimion and Phoebe excerpts 31 July 2013
0
No votes yet
0

Pages