Ted Hughes

Birth and death

Born on the 17th of August 1930 in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire

Died on the 28th of October 1998

After his death his ashes were scattered in Dartmoor and a granite memorial stone marks the spot

There is a memorial stone to Hughes in Poet's corner in Westminster Abbey

Died in a hospital in London and was cremated in Exeter at 68 years old

Early life

Hughes father fought at Ypres during the first world war. When Hughes was born he was a joiner.

He had two siblings, Gerald who was 10 years older than him and Olwyn who was 2 years older.

When he was 7, his family moved to Mexborough to run a newsagents shop

Hughes was fascinated by animals since he was young. They were the subject of many of his poems.

His first published poem appeared in a school magazine when he was 16, in 1946.

Later life

His first book of poems - "The Hawk in the rain" - won first place in a poetry competition after being published in 1957

In 1984, Ted Hughes became the Poet Laureate, which he kept until his death

Hughes wrote poems, children's books and translated roman poetry and classical plays

Studies English and Anthropology at Pembroke college, Cambridge University from 1951-1954

From 1949-1951 he did national service in the RAF

After graduation, he worked as a zoo attendant and night watchman

His work

Wrote "The Iron man" in 1968 and wrote it for his own children.

Hawk in the Rain - 1957

Won an OBE in 1977

Crow - 1970

Tales of Ovid - 1997

Birthday letters - 1998

Relationships

Married Sylvia in 1956 - separated in 1962

Assia Wevill

Hughes left Plath on holiday to meet Wevill in London and went on a 10 day trip to spain with her, at the same place that he and Sylvia honeymooned

Ted refused to end his affair with her and Sylvia and him divorced

Assia also killed herself by gas oven, but took her child with her 23rd March 1969

Hughes married Carol Orchard in 1970 until his death