Biography
Matthew Arnold was born in Laleham, England on December 24, 1822 becoming the oldest son of Thomas and Mary Arnold. The family moved to Rugby, England in 1826, and he attended Rugby School where his father – Thomas Arnold – was the headmaster.
Matthew Arnold attended Oxford University, and at 28 began working for the government as a school inspector. He held this position until he retired, 35 years later. Also at the age of 28, he married Frances Wightman and together they lived in Laleham. Together they had six children but only three of them managed to outlive their father.
Arnold’s first work, The Strayed Reveller, was a poetry book that was published anonymously in 1849. In 1853 he published Empedocles on Etna and Other Poems, once again anonymously, until his book Poems was published under his name.
Many of Arnold's works were critical, including the published Lectures on Translating Homer in 1861, Last Words on Translating Homer in 1862, and Essays on Criticism in 1865. Throughout Arnold’s criticism essay, he praised Greek and Roman authors, and eventually began devoting his time to social and theological subjects. He argued to bring the Christian faith back to classical morals and wanted to show people how to live a good life through poetry.
Arnold made two trips to the USA to give public lectures in 1883 and once again in 1886. These lectures were later published in his name.
Matthew Arnold died on April 15, 1888 of heart failure in Liverpool. He was buried in the All Saints churchyard in Laleham.
