Matthew prior biography

English diplomat and poet

For other people named Matthew Prior, see Matthew Prior (disambiguation).

Matthew Prior (21 July 1664 – 18 September 1721) was an English poet and diplomat.^[1][2] He is also known as a contributor to The Examiner.

Early life

Prior was born in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, where he lived with his father George, a Nonconformist joiner.^[3] His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster School, under Dr Richard Busby.

Matthew Prior - Cambridge University Press & Assessment

After his father's death, he left school, and was cared for by his uncle, a vintner in Channel Row. Here, Lord Dorset found him reading Horace, and set him to translate an ode. He did so well that the Earl offered to contribute to the continuation of his education at Westminster.

One of his schoolfellows and friends at Westminster was Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax.

It was to avoid being separated from Montagu and his brother James that Prior accepted, against his patron's wi Matthew Prior | British poet | Britannica JYT