Life of George Herbert
Biographical Section
George Herbert was born in Montgomery, Wales, on April 3, 1593 to Magdalen and Richard Newport Herbert. The Herbert family was very affluent and influential in the local government at the time. His mother, Magdalen, worked as a patron and maintained a friendship with John Doone and several or artists. His father, Richard, was first a Member of Parliament. He later worked as High Sheriff and moved on to “Keeper of the Rolls” of Montgomeryshire. Herbert first attended Trinity College, Cambridge and graduated in 1609 with a Bachelor’s degree, then received his Master’s degree in 1613 at 20 years old.
In 1618, his poetic talent earned him the spot of Reader in Rhetoric at Cambridge. Herbert followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a Member of Parliament himself in 1624, representing Montgomery. Shortly after returning to the church in 1629, he served as an ordained priest up until his death in 1633. Herbert thoroughly expressed his love for poetry by writing here and sharing what he wrote for the other churchgoers; he even went as far as rebuilding the church with his own money. He also tended to the less fortunate, giving food and clothing was like second-nature to him. Herbert’s poetry is centered in the realm of the Metaphysical poets.
His writing is also heavily attributed to the subjects of theology and love. He is known as “a pivotal figure: enormously popular, deeply and broadly influential, and arguably the most skillful and important British devotional lyricist.” Herbert first published “Oratio Qua auspicatissimum Serenissimi Principis Caroli” in 1623. Nicholas Ferrar, Herbert’s notably close friend published “The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Aspirations” in 1633, a collection of all his poems. This turned out to be Herbert’s most popular collective work. Ferrar received these poems from Herbert while Herbert was on his deathbed. Many of his poems have been used as hymns because they
George Herbert was born in Montgomery, Wales, on April 3, 1593 to Magdalen and Richard Newport Herbert. The Herbert family was very affluent and influential in the local government at the time. His mother, Magdalen, worked as a patron and maintained a friendship with John Doone and several or artists. His father, Richard, was first a Member of Parliament. He later worked as High Sheriff and moved on to “Keeper of the Rolls” of Montgomeryshire. Herbert first attended Trinity College, Cambridge and graduated in 1609 with a Bachelor’s degree, then received his Master’s degree in 1613 at 20 years old.
In 1618, his poetic talent earned him the spot of Reader in Rhetoric at Cambridge. Herbert followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a Member of Parliament himself in 1624, representing Montgomery. Shortly after returning to the church in 1629, he served as an ordained priest up until his death in 1633. Herbert thoroughly expressed his love for poetry by writing here and sharing what he wrote for the other churchgoers; he even went as far as rebuilding the church with his own money. He also tended to the less fortunate, giving food and clothing was like second-nature to him. Herbert’s poetry is centered in the realm of the Metaphysical poets.
His writing is also heavily attributed to the subjects of theology and love. He is known as “a pivotal figure: enormously popular, deeply and broadly influential, and arguably the most skillful and important British devotional lyricist.” Herbert first published “Oratio Qua auspicatissimum Serenissimi Principis Caroli” in 1623. Nicholas Ferrar, Herbert’s notably close friend published “The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Aspirations” in 1633, a collection of all his poems. This turned out to be Herbert’s most popular collective work. Ferrar received these poems from Herbert while Herbert was on his deathbed. Many of his poems have been used as hymns because they