Robert Herrick

About

Seventeenth-century English poet known for works such as Hesperides and "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." The latter work, a carpe diem (seize-the-day) poem, contains the famous first line, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."

Before Fame

He studied at Trinity Hall and at St. John's College, Cambridge.

Trivia

He wrote over 2,500 poems, about half of which are contained in a 1648 collection entitled Hesperides.

Family Life

He was a bachelor for the entirety of his life. He worked as both a clergyman and a poet.

Associated With

He was a contemporary of fellow poet John Donne.