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