Coventry Patmore

Date of Birth: July 23, 1823

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: November 26, 1896

Biography

Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore was an English poet and critic, best known for his narrative poem “The Angel in the House,” which is a reflection on the Victorian ideal of womanhood and domestic life. Born into a literary family, Patmore initially pursued a career in painting before turning to poetry. His work was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English painters, poets, and critics. Patmore’s poetry often explored themes of love, marriage, and domesticity, and his style was marked by its clarity and emotional depth. In addition to his poetry, Patmore wrote essays and critical works, contributing significantly to Victorian literary culture.

5 Interesting Facts about Coventry Patmore

1. Coventry Patmore was a close friend of Alfred Lord Tennyson and was deeply influenced by his work.

2. He served as a librarian at the British Museum from 1846 to 1865.

3. Patmore’s first wife, Emily Augusta Andrews, was the inspiration for “The Angel in the House.”

4. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1864, which had a profound impact on his later works.

5. Patmore was awarded a Civil List pension in recognition of his contributions to literature.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Coventry Patmore

1. “To him that waits all things reveal themselves, provided that he has the courage not to deny, in the darkness, what he has seen in the light.”

2. “Love wakes men, once a lifetime each; They lift their heavy lids, and look; And, lo, what one sweet page can teach, They read with joy, then shut the book.”

3. “Each moment of a happy lover’s hour is worth an age of dull and common life.”

4. “The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident.”

5. “The more wild and incredible your desire, the more willing and prompt God is in fulfilling it, if you will have it so.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Coventry Patmore did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime; his highest net worth is not well-documented, but he lived comfortably, particularly after receiving his Civil List pension.

Children

Coventry Patmore had eleven children. With his first wife, Emily Augusta Andrews, he had six children: Henry John, Ernest George, Emily Honoria, Bertha, Gertrude, and Laura. After Emily’s death, he married Marianne Byles, with whom he had four more children: Henry Fitzjames, Mary Christina, Alice, and Edith. His third wife, Harriet Robson, bore him one son, Peter.