Poet Laureate
an office in the household of the sovereigns of Great Britain, the appellation having its origin in a custom of the English universities, which continued to 1512, of presenting a laurel leaf to graduates in rhetoric and versification, the king's "laureate" being a graduated rhetorician in the service of the king. The first appointment of a poet laureate dates from the reign of Charles II., the first patent being granted in 1670. It was formerly the duty of the poet laureate to write an ode on the birthday of the monarch, but this custom has been discontinued since the reign of George III. Among those who have held this office may be mentioned Dryden, Southey, Wordsworth, and Tennyson. Robert Bridges was appointed in 1913.