Herbert, George

Herbert, George (1593–1633). Poet. Younger brother of Edward Herbert, grounded in classics at Westminster School, then graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert successfully sought the post of university orator (held 1620–7) as a preliminary to public service. But by 1625 his ‘Court-hopes’ had faded with his patrons' deaths, so, ill-health increasingly recurrent, he abandoned ambition and turned to the church, finally being ordained in 1630 and inducted at Bemerton, near Salisbury. Additionally chaplain to Lord Pembroke, he became friends with Nicholas Ferrar at Little Gidding and, with saint-like devotion, concentrated his remaining few years on the parish and church repair—‘Holy Mr Herbert’ was a contemporary assessment. Herbert is best known for his sacred poetry (The Temple, posthumously 1633), portraying his spiritual conflicts, but so well crafted and full of simple dignity that he not only influenced others like Crashaw and Vaughan but is now regarded as a major metaphysical poet.

A. S. Hargreaves