AUSTIN, ALFRED

born May 30, 1835, Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng. died June 2, 1913, Ashford, Kent successor of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, as poet laureate who could write simply in praise of the English and Italian countryside and who could claim to represent popular feeling, but who lacked the gift of transforming it into true poetry. Before his official appointment, Austin studied law and was called to the bar, tried to enter politics, and practiced journalism.