William morris a brief biography of franklin

‘If a chap can’t compose an epic poem while he’s weaving tapestry he had better shut up.’

Portrait of William Morris by Elliott and Fry, 1877

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As well as being one of the most popular poets of his day, William Morris (24 March 1834-3 October 1896), was an outstanding designer and craftsman and a dedicated political thinker.

He was born in Walthamstow and educated at Marlborough and Oxford. At Oxford he met his life-long friend Edward Burne-Jones and in 1856 the two young men moved to London and became part of the circle of the Pre-Raphaelite painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

In 1857 Rossetti was commissioned to supervise decorative work in the new Oxford Union building.

He enlisted his friends for this task, and during this period Morris met his future wife, Jane Burden. Morris and Jane married in 1859 and although their initial happiness did not last they remained together until Morris’s death. William Morris: A Brief Biography - The Victorian Web LEM