Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell (1621–1678) was an English metaphysical poet, satirist, and politician who served as Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull during the turbulent Commonwealth and Restoration eras. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, Marvell worked as tutor to Mary Fairfax (daughter of Parliamentary Lord General Fairfax) and later to Oliver Cromwell's ward, William Dutton.

As Latin Secretary alongside John Milton, Marvell played a pivotal role in interceding to save Milton from execution following the restoration of Charles II. His lyric poetry, published posthumously in 1681, combines intellectual wit with emotional intensity, most famously in his carpe diem masterpiece To His Coy Mistress ('Had we but world enough, and time') and his meditative nature ode The Garden.