Richard Lovelace (poet) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Lovelace
Richard Lovelace
Born	(1617-12-09)9 December 1617
Died	1657(1657-00-00) (aged 39–40) London, England
Occupation	Poet
Nationality	English
Alma mater	Gloucester Hall, Oxford
Period	Late English Renaissance
Literary movement	Cavalier poet
Notable work	To Althea, from Prison

Richard Lovelace (born December 9, 1617 – died 1657) was an English poet who lived in the 1600s. He was known as a Cavalier poet. These poets supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. Lovelace is most famous for his poems "To Althea, from Prison" and "To Lucasta, Going to the Warres".

Richard Lovelace's Life Story

Growing Up

Richard Lovelace was born on December 9, 1617. We don't know his exact birthplace. It might have been Woolwich, England, or even Holland. He was the oldest son of Sir William Lovelace and Anne Barne Lovelace. Richard had four brothers and three sisters. His family was important, with a history in the military and law. They owned a lot of land in Kent, England.

Richard's father, Sir William, was a soldier. He died in 1627 during a war with Spain and the Dutch Republic. Richard was only nine years old when his father passed away.

One of Richard's brothers, Francis Lovelace (1621–1675), became the second governor of the New York Colony. This was a big job in the American colonies.

In 1629, when Richard was eleven, he went to Charterhouse School in London. He spent five years there. For three of those years, he studied with Richard Crashaw, who also became a poet. In 1631, Richard got an honorary job working for King Charles I. He then went to Gloucester Hall, Oxford, in 1634.

College Days

Richard Lovelace went to the University of Oxford. People at the time described him as very handsome and charming. He was known for being polite and well-mannered. He was admired by many, especially women.

While at college, Richard wanted to be seen as a social and stylish person. He was a true "Cavalier." Cavalier poets wrote about things like friendship, love, and beauty. They also gave advice and celebrated life. Richard even wrote a play called The Scholars while he was at Oxford. He later spent a few months at the University of Cambridge. At 18, he earned his Master of Arts degree from Oxford.

Politics and Time in Prison

Richard Lovelace's poems were often inspired by his life and the politics of his time. In 1639, he joined the army under Lord Goring. He fought in the Bishops' Wars. This experience led him to write poems like "Sonnet. To Generall Goring" and "To Lucasta, Going to the Warres". He also wrote a play called The Soldier.

When he returned home in 1640, Richard worked as a local official. He saw a lot of trouble over religion and politics in England.

In 1641, Richard led a group of men to stop a petition that wanted to get rid of the Church of England's leaders. The next year, he presented a petition to the English Parliament that supported the King. These actions led to Richard being put in prison for the first time. He was soon released on bail. However, he was told not to talk to Parliament without permission. This meant he couldn't fight in the first part of the English Civil War.

His time in prison inspired one of his most famous poems, "To Althea, from Prison". In this poem, he wrote about freedom of the mind, even when your body is locked up. He tried his best to stay loyal to the King, even though he couldn't fight.

In 1648, Richard was put in prison again. This time, he stayed for almost a year. When he was released in April 1649, King Charles I had been executed. Richard's cause seemed lost. But this second time in prison also led to new poems. He published his first collection of poems called Lucasta. "Lucasta" was thought to be the name of his muse, Lucy Sacheverell.

Richard Lovelace died in 1657 in London. He was buried at St Bride's Church.

Richard Lovelace's Writings

Richard Lovelace wrote nearly 200 poems during his life. His first work was a play, The Scholars, which was performed but never published. In 1640, he wrote a play called The Soldier, based on his military experiences.

His poem "To Lucasta, Going to the Warres" (written in 1640) was about his first political actions. "To Althea, From Prison" was written during his first time in prison in 1642. Later, he wrote The Rose and The Scrutiny.

On May 14, 1649, his first book of poems, Lucasta, was published. He also wrote poems about animals, like The Ant, The Grasse-hopper, and The Falcon. After Richard Lovelace died, another collection of his poems, Lucasta: Postume Poems, was published in 1660.

One writer, William Winstanley, thought very highly of Lovelace's work. He compared him to the famous writer Sir Philip Sidney.

Two of Richard Lovelace's most famous lines come from his poems:

From "To Althea, From Prison":

Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage;

Minds innocent and quiet take

That for an hermitage

And from "To Lucasta. Going to the Warres":

I could not love thee, dear, so much,

Lov'd I not Honour more.

Important Dates in Lovelace's Life

• 1617 – Richard Lovelace is born on December 9.
• 1629 – He starts attending Charterhouse School.
• 1631 – He becomes a "Gentleman Wayter Extraordinary" for King Charles I.
• 1634 – He begins studying at Gloucester Hall, Oxford.
• 1635 – He writes a play called The Scholars.
• 1636 – He earns his Master of Arts degree from Oxford.
• 1639 – He serves as an ensign in the army during the First Scottish Expedition.
• 1640 – He becomes a captain in the Second Scottish Expedition. He writes The Soldier and "To Lucasta, Going to the Warres".
• 1641 – He takes part in a protest against a petition in Kent.
• 1642 – He is imprisoned for the first time. He likely writes "To Althea, from Prison" during this time. He is released on bail. The English Civil War begins. He travels to Holland.
• 1646 – He is wounded while fighting in Dunkirk.
• 1648 – He is imprisoned again, this time at Peterhouse.
• 1649 – He is released from prison. His book of poems, Lucasta, is published.
• 1657 – Richard Lovelace dies in London.
• 1659–1660 – His second book of poems, Lucasta, Postume Poems, is published after his death.

See also

In Spanish: Richard Lovelace para niños