(c. 1552-1599) English poet. He has been called the “poet’s poet” because of his rich imagery and command of versification. His major work is the moral allegory The Faerie Queene, of which six books survive (three published 1590 and three 1596). Other books include The Shepheard’s Calendar 1579, Astrophel 1586, the love sonnets Amoretti and the Epithalamion 1595.
Born in London and educated at Cambridge University, in 1580 he became secretary to the Lord Deputy in Ireland and at Kilcolman Castle completed the first three books of The Faerie Queene. In 1598 Kilcolman Castle was burned down by rebels, and Spenser with his family narrowly escaped. He died in London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.