Top 10 facts about William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth died on April 23rd in 1850

TODAY’S was the date William Wordsworth gave to one of his most famous works: “Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802”, beginning “Earth hath not anything to show more fair”.

 

1. Actually when it was first published in 1807, he gave the year as 1803, but this was later corrected to 1802.

2. Research has shown that he didn’t compose it on September 3 anyway but on July 31.

3. When the verse was inscribed on a plaque at the London Eye in 2000, one line was omitted in error.

4. A spokesman said at the time: “We are not quite sure how it happened, but it is being replaced.”

5. An estimated 250,000 children took part in a nationwide mass poetry reading of Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” in 2004.

6. A rap version of Daffodils was released in 2007 to mark the 200th anniversary of its publication.

7. Actor Mike Myers is the first cousin, seven times removed of William Wordsworth.

8. Wordsworth became Poet Laureate in 1843. He at first declined but changed his mind when Prime Minister Robert Peel told him “you shall have nothing required of you”.

9. As Poet Laureate he wrote no official poetry.

10. From 1798-99 he lived in Germany but was homesick and complained of the cold.