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Marvell, Andrew

On 31st March 1621, in a small West Yorkshire village called Winestead, Andrew Marvell was born to parents Andrew Marvell and his wife Anne. When Marvell was three years old, his father, a reverend, relocated the young family to nearby Hull in order to take up the position of lecturer at the Holy Trinity Church. It was in Hull that the poet spent his childhood, being educated at the local grammar school before, in 1633, going on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, receiving his BA in 1638. It was during his time at Cambridge that Marvell’s first published verse – a Latin and Greek poem on the birth of Princess Anne – appeared in a Cambridge University 1637 volume of poetry, Musarum Cantabrigiensium.

In 1640, while studying for his master’s degree, Marvell was forced to leave Cambridge after his father’s accidental death by drowning. The details on how many Marvell spent the years after this event are scarce and are based on speculation more than on facts, but we know that between the years of 1642–1646 he would visit numerous countries around Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain, where he may – or may not – have spent time travelling with and tutoring the sons of noble men; we simply cannot for certain say one way or the other (as I said, the details are scarce). On his return to England, Marvell would find a country divided by politics and preparing to go to war with itself once more after a brief period of peace. It was from this point, 1648 to 1652 in particular, that is it believed Marvell composed the majority of his lyrics.

During the height of the Second Civil War, 1648, Marvell composed and published two poems – ‘Elegy Upon the Death of My Lord Francis Villiers’ and ‘To His Noble Friend Mr Richard Lovelace’ – that indirectly dealt with issues concerning the political climate. Even today, Marvell’s politics are debated and considered unclear. He wrote that up until the mid-1650s he had ‘not the remotest relation to publick

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1621

Marvell was born

On 31st March 1621, in a small West Yorkshire village called Winestead, Andrew Marvell was born to parents Andrew Marvell and his wife Anne.
1638

Received BA from Trinity College, Cambridge

It was in Hull that the poet spent his childhood, being educated at the local grammar school before, in 1633, going on to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, receiving his BA in 1638.
1637

Marvell's first published verse

It was during his time at Cambridge that Marvell's first published verse – a Latin and Greek poem on the birth of Princess Anne – appeared in a Cambridge University 1637 volume of poetry, Musarum Cantabrigiensium.
1642–1646

Travelled in Europe

Between the years of 1642 and 1646 Marvell visited numerous countries around Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain, where he may – or may not – have spent time travelling with and tutoring the sons of noblemen.
1648–1652

Composed the majority of Lyrics

It was from this point that is it believed Marvell composed the majority of his lyrics.
1648

Publication of two political poems

During the height of the Second Civil War, Marvell composed and published two poems – ‘Elegy Upon the Death of My Lord Francis Villiers’ and ‘To His Noble Friend Mr Richard Lovelace’ – that indirectly dealt with issues concerning the political climate.

Read 'To His Noble Friend Mr Richard Lovelace, Upon His Poems'

1650

He joined the household of Lord Thomas Fairfax

He joined the household of Lord Thomas Fairfax, a commander for the parliamentarians during the Civil War. Marvell's time at the country estate – named Nun Appleton House – was spent tutoring Fairfax’s daughter, Mary.
1653

Befriended John Milton

By 1653, Marvell had befriended fellow poet John Milton who by this time was working for the Commonwealth as Secretary for Foreign Tongues. Milton recommended Marvell for a position as his assistant. He eventually secured the position in 1657 and held it until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Read Milton's Mini Bio here

1659

Became MP for Hull

In 1659, Marvell was invited to stand as MP for Hull, a position he held for the remainder of his life.
1678

Marvell died

Marvell died on August 16th 1678, in London.