Arnold , Matthew , 1822-1888 , poet and critic

Matthew Arnold was born in Middlesex in 1822. He was educated at Rugby School (where his father was headmaster) and Balliol College, Oxford. As a young man he published several books of poetry and was appointed Professor of Poetry at Oxford. After the age of forty he wrote less poetry and turned to literary and cultural criticism; his most famous poem, Dover Beach was published in 1867 but was probably written some years earlier. From 1851 until 1886 he also worked as a school inspector.