poet laureate

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Poet of the British royal household or of the USA, so called because of the laurel wreath awarded to eminent poets in the Greco-Roman world. Early UK poets with unofficial status were John Skelton, Samuel Daniel, Ben Jonson, and William Davenant. John Dryden was the first to receive the title by letters-patent in 1668 and from then on the post became a regular institution. Andrew Motion was appointed UK poet laureate in 1999. His was the first appointment to the post to be made for ten years, rather than for life.

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