Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Born 21 Oct 1772 Ottery St. Mary, United Kingdom

Died 25 Jul 1834 Highgate, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

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Mar 30, 2026

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TL;DR

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, born in 1772 in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and struggled with opium addiction. He died in Highgate, London in 1834.

Identity & family.

KIN · 15

Names, aliases, and relatives of Samuel Taylor Coleridge — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Nicknames Col

Parents: Anne Bowden John Coleridge
Spouses: Sara Fricker
Children: Sara Coleridge Derwent Coleridge Hartley Coleridge Berkeley Coleridge
Siblings: James Coleridge William Coleridge Luke Herman Coleridge George Coleridge Edward Coleridge Lt. Francis Syndercombe Coleridge Anne Coleridge Capt. John Coleridge

At a glance.

STATS

Samuel Taylor Coleridge by the numbers — life, work, and family.

61 Years lived

50 Books

1 Award

1 Marriage

4 Children

Who was Samuel Taylor Coleridge?

BIOGRAPHY

Samuel Taylor Coleridge — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Coleridge ran away from home at age seven after his elder brother bullied him. He was born on October 21, 1772 in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, the youngest of ten children. His father John Coleridge worked as a schoolmaster; his mother was Anne Bowden. When his father died, Coleridge lived with his uncle John Bowden, who took him to taverns.

Career

Coleridge published The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in 1798 as part of Lyrical Ballads, co-written with William Wordsworth. He wrote Kubla Khan and Christabel. Journalism and lecturing filled his working years. In 1817 he published Biographia Literaria, a key work of literary criticism. The Royal Society of Literature elected him as a Fellow.

Personal life

Coleridge married Sara Fricker in 1795, but they separated in 1806 after an unhappy marriage. They had four children: Hartley 1796, Berkeley 1798, died in infancy, Derwent 1800, and Sara 1802. Chronic illness drove him to use laudanum opium, leading to addiction. He spent his later years in Highgate, London, under the care of a physician.

Legacy

Coleridge’s poems, including The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, influenced many poets and writers. He helped shape the Romantic movement. His critical work Biographia Literaria introduced new concepts about imagination and poetic form. The Royal Society of Literature made him a Fellow.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Samuel Taylor Coleridge — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 50

Samuel Taylor Coleridge's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Poems

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Biographia Literaria

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Lyrical Ballads

by William Wordsworth et al.
Amazon

Aids to Reflection in the Formation of a Manly Character

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Table Talk

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Lectures and Notes on Shakespere and Other English Poets

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Poetical and Dramatic Works

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Christabel

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Coleridge's Literary Criticism

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge et al.
Amazon

The Classic Hundred

by William Harmon et al.
Amazon

Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Amazon

Inquiring Spirit

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Showing 14 of 50 View all 50 books

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 2

A wall of memorable lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

The Most Happy Marriage I Can Picture or Imagine Would Be the Union of a Deaf Man to a Blind Woman.
In Xanadu Did Kubla Khan a Stately Pleasure Dome Decree Where Aleph the Sacred River Ran Through Chasms Measureless to Man Down to a Sunless Sea.

Did you know?

FACTS · 2

Little-known facts about Samuel Taylor Coleridge — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Coleridge’s four children were: David Hartley Coleridge, born in September 1796; Berkeley Coleridge, born in May 1798 died 1799; Derwent Coleridge, born in September 1800; and Ann Coleridge, born in December 1802.
He died at 6:30 in the morning.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 28

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

When was Samuel Taylor Coleridge born?

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born on October 21, 1772, in Ottery St. Mary, Devon. He was the youngest of ten children. His father was John Coleridge, a schoolmaster, and his mother was Anne Bowden.
Where was Samuel Taylor Coleridge born?

He was born in Ottery St. Mary, Devon, England on October 21, 1772. This town in Devon is known for its rural setting. He was the youngest of ten children.
When did Samuel Taylor Coleridge die?

He died on July 25, 1834, at the age of 61, in Highgate, London. His death was related to his long-term opium addiction and illness. He died at 6:30 in the morning.
How old was Samuel Taylor Coleridge when he died?

Samuel Taylor Coleridge died at the age of 61. He was born in 1772 and passed away in 1834. His death occurred in Highgate, London.
Where did Samuel Taylor Coleridge die?

He died in Highgate, London, England on July 25, 1834. Highgate is a suburb of London. He was suffering from the effects of long-term opium use.
What was Samuel Taylor Coleridge's occupation?

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a writer, poet, and literary critic. He also worked as a journalist and lecturer. His works include The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.
What nationality was Samuel Taylor Coleridge?

He was British, specifically English. He was born in Devon, England, and died in London. He is considered one of the major poets of the Romantic movement.
What language did Samuel Taylor Coleridge speak?

Samuel Taylor Coleridge spoke English as his native language. He wrote all his works in English. He was a master of poetic language and critical prose.
Who were Samuel Taylor Coleridge's parents?

His parents were John Coleridge, a schoolmaster, and Anne Bowden. His father died when he was young, after which he was sent to live with his uncle. His mother was the daughter of a farmer.
Who was Samuel Taylor Coleridge married to?

He was married to Sara Fricker from 1795 to 1806. They had four children together. The marriage was unhappy and they eventually separated.
Did Samuel Taylor Coleridge have children?

Yes, he had four children: Hartley 1796, Berkeley 1798-1799, Derwent 1800, and Sara 1802. Hartley and Derwent later became writers. Berkeley died in infancy.
Did Samuel Taylor Coleridge have any siblings?

Yes, he had eight siblings, including James, William, Luke, George, Edward, Francis, Anne, and John. He was the youngest of ten children. His siblings included a soldier and a clergyman.
Where did Samuel Taylor Coleridge go to school?

He was educated at Christ’s Hospital in London, then Jesus College at the University of Cambridge, and also briefly at The King’s School in Ottery St. Mary. He left university without a degree due to debts. He later studied at Cambridge but did not complete his studies.
What awards did Samuel Taylor Coleridge receive?

He was awarded the title of Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This honor recognized his contributions to literature. He was also elected honorary member of various literary societies.
How many awards did Samuel Taylor Coleridge win?

He is known to have received at least one major award: Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. However, his literary legacy is more significant than formal awards. He is remembered for his poems and criticism.
What was Samuel Taylor Coleridge's nickname?

He was often called Col by his family and friends. This nickname is used in many accounts of his life. It reflects his informal relationship with those close to him.
What is Samuel Taylor Coleridge best known for?

He is best known for his poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and his dream-like poem Kubla Khan. He is also known for his opium addiction, which influenced his work. He appeared as a subject in the TV series Camera Three.
For how long was Samuel Taylor Coleridge married to Sara Fricker?

He was married to Sara Fricker from October 4, 1795, to 1806, about 11 years. They separated in 1806 and never divorced. During their marriage, they had four children.
What caused Samuel Taylor Coleridge's opium addiction?

He became addicted to laudanum opium in the early 1790s while trying to treat an illness and conquer melancholy. The drug use started after the deaths of two of his siblings. He struggled with addiction for the rest of his life.
Who was Robert Southey to Samuel Taylor Coleridge?

Robert Southey was a close friend and political radical who became Coleridge’s brother-in-law after Coleridge married Southey’s sister-in-law, Sara Fricker. They collaborated on various projects and shared literary interests.
What are Samuel Taylor Coleridge's most famous poems?

His most famous poems include The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 1798, Kubla Khan published 1816, and Christabel published 1816. These works are considered masterpieces of the Romantic era.
What was Biographia Literaria?

Biographia Literaria is a work of literary criticism and autobiography published by Coleridge in 1817. It discusses his theories of imagination and poetry. The book is considered a foundational text in English literary criticism.
Did Samuel Taylor Coleridge serve in the military?

Yes, he joined the British Army in 1793 after fleeing from debts. However, he was entirely unsuited to military service. His brother arranged his discharge by reason of insanity, and he returned to college.
What did Samuel Taylor Coleridge do in Malta?

In 1804, Coleridge moved to Malta, where he worked as a secretary to the British governor and spied for the British Crown. He remained there for about a year before returning to England.
What is the significance of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, published in 1798 in Lyrical Ballads, is a landmark poem of the Romantic movement. It tells a supernatural tale of a mariner’s curse and redemption. The poem is known for its vivid imagery and use of the ballad form.
How many children did Samuel Taylor Coleridge have?

He had four children: David Hartley Coleridge born 1796, Berkeley Coleridge born 1798, died 1799, Derwent Coleridge born 1800, and Ann Coleridge born 1802. Hartley and Derwent became writers. Berkeley died in infancy.
What was Samuel Taylor Coleridge's relationship with William Wordsworth?

Coleridge collaborated with William Wordsworth on Lyrical Ballads 1798, which launched the Romantic movement. They were close friends for many years, though their relationship eventually soured. Wordsworth and Coleridge influenced each other’s poetry deeply.
Where did Samuel Taylor Coleridge spend his later years?

In his later years, Coleridge lived in Highgate, London, under the care of Dr. James Gillman. He continued to write and produce literary criticism. He died in Highgate in 1834.

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Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on March 30, 2026

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