William Butler Yeats was born on June 13, 1865 in Sandymount, near Dublin, Ireland to the parents of John Butler Yeats and Susan Mary Pollexfen. His father wanted his William to pursue a life in art even though he was an unsuccessful painter. Listening to his father William went to the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin but dropped out because he did not like to be instructed. He then found his love for poetry. Yeats was one of Irelands greatest poets. Yeats spent most of his life in Ireland and London. When Yeats went to London in 1889, he met Maude Gonne who he would love for the rest of his life. She inspired a lot of Yeats poetry. Yeats had also become interested in theater after he met Lady Augusta Gregory and together, they founded the Irish National Theatre in 1899. While in Dublin, Yeats was involved with the Celtic Revival. Their goal was to save the oldest Irish folklore, legends, and traditions by incorporating them into works of art. The Celtic Revival was a movement to promote Ireland’s native heritage.Yeats was very involved in politics and was appointed a senator of the Irish Free State in 1922. Yeats was also awarded a Nobel Prize in literature in 1923. At the age of 79 he died on January 28, 1939 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.
