Poet and critic. Born near Goole, Yorkshire. Considered a great English critic, his best-known work is his first publication "Seven Types of Ambiguity" 1930. Married Hetta in 1941 and had two sons, but was probably bisexual and an alcoholic. Spent a lot of his married life away from the London home, in Sheffield where he was chair of English literature at the university. Died at home, Studio House, 1 Hampstead Hill Gardens. (Did you notice how we managed not to mention the beard?)
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir William Empson
Commemorated ati
Sir William Empson
Unveiled by Sir Williams’ son, Jake Empson. At no 71 Empson lived in the the...
Other Subjects
Oscar Wilde
Born in Dublin as Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde. 'Importance of Being Earnest', 'Picture of Dorian Gray', etc. A flamboyant aesthete, he may have been Grossmith's model for the character Bunt...
Person, Gender Issues, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous, Theatre, France, Ireland
7 memorials
Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay
Historian, essayist, poet. Born Leicestershire but brought up in the Clapham home. Spent four years (1834 - 8) as an administrator in India, during which he showed little interest in Indian cultu...
4 memorials
Sir John Betjeman
Poet Laureate 1972 - 1984. Conservation campaigner. Credited with saving the Midland Grand Hotel (now St Pancras Chambers) and the station at St Pancras from demolition and helping to achieve their...
11 memorials
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
Statesman and poet. Born at the family home Wallingford House (where the Old Admirality Building now is). A baby when his father, the 1st Duke, was assassinated, he was brought up alongside Charles...
2 memorials
Oliver Goldsmith
Author. Born Co. Longford, Ireland (though it could have been County Roscommon, and for his date of birth we have only his word). Arrived in London in 1760 and joined the literary group that inclu...
4 memorials
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