Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell , 1621-78, one of the English metaphysical poets . Educated at Cambridge, he worked as a clerk, traveled abroad, and returned to serve as tutor to Lord Fairfax's daughter in Yorkshire. In 1657 he was appointed John Milton's assistant in the Latin secretaryship, and in 1659 he was elected to Parliament, where he served until his death. He was one of the chief wits and satirists of his time as well as being a Puritan and a public defender of individual liberty. Today, however, he is known chiefly for his brilliant lyric poetry, which includes "The Garden," "The Definition of Love," "Bermudas," and "To His Coy Mistress," and for his "Horatian Ode" to Cromwell.

Bibliography: See his poems and letters edited by H. M. Margoliouth (2d ed. 1952); biographies by V. Sackville-West (1929, repr. 1971), J. D. Hunt (1978), and N. Murray (2000); studies by H. E. Toliver (1965), P. Legouis (rev. ed. 1966), J. M. Wallace (1969), D. M. Friedman (1970), R. L. Colie (1971), K. Friedenreich, ed. (1977), E. S. Donno, ed. (1978).

Marvell, Andrew (1621–78). Satirist and poet. Son of a Yorkshire clergyman, Cambridge‐educated, Marvell tutored Lord Fairfax's daughter and a ward of Cromwell's before being eventually appointed (1657) as assistant in the Latin secretaryship to Milton. Despite having served the Protectorate, he was able to accept the Restoration. He was elected MP for Hull in 1659 but, despite being moderately active in Parliament, was ineffective in the country party. Regarded by contemporaries as a political satirist, Marvell is now generally remembered as a metaphysical poet, eclectic but lyrical and delighting in nature.

Marvell, Andrew (1621–78) English metaphysical poet and satirist. In his lifetime, he was known for his withering satires on corruption and mismangement in the court of Charles II. Today, Marvell is chiefly remembered for his lyric poetry, first collected in 1681 in a volume that included “The Garden”, “Bermudas” and his best-known poem, “To His Coy Mistress”.