Biography of William Cowper (1731 – 1800)
William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) (November 15, 1731 – April 25, 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist.
He was born in Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England.
William Cowper was one of the most popular poets of his time. He changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside.
He suffered from periods of severe depression, which caused him frequently to doubt his fervent evangelical Christianity, the source of his much-loved hymns – going so far once as to express his dismayed surprise at ever having written a particular hymn.
Cowper died in East Dereham, Norfolk.
Biography By: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License and uses material adapted in whole or in part from the Wikipedia article on William Cowper.