Brewer's: Poets Laureate

appointed by letters patent.

The following are sometimes included, though not appointed by letters patent:—Chaucer, Gower, John Key, Bernard, Skelton, Rob. Whittington, Richard Edwards, Spenser, and Sam. Daniel.

(!) Five of the fourteen known only by their names. Three others quite third-rate poets. The remaining five were distinguished men.

A poet laureate is one who has received a laurel crown. There were at one time “doctors laureate,” “bachelors laureate,” etc.

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