Nahum Tate | |
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Poet Laureate of England/Great Britain | |
In office 23 December 1692 – 30 July 1715 | |
Monarchs | William III and Mary II Anne |
Preceded by | Thomas Shadwell |
Succeeded by | Nicholas Rowe |
Personal details | |
Born | 1652 Dublin, Ireland |
Died | 30 July 1715[1] Southwark, London, Great Britain | (aged 62–63)
Resting place | St George the Martyr, Southwark, London |
Parent |
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Occupation | Poet |
Awards | Poet Laureate of the Kingdom of England (1692) |
Nahum Tate (/ˈneɪ.əm ˈteɪt/ NAY-əm TAYT; 1652 – 30 July 1715) was an Anglo-Irish poet, hymnist and lyricist, who became Poet Laureate in 1692. Tate is best known for The History of King Lear, his 1681 adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, and for his libretto for Henry Purcell's opera, Dido and Aeneas. He also wrote the lyrics to a Christmas carol, "While shepherds watched their flocks".