Oldest Poet Laureate

The greatest age at which a poet has succeeded is 72 years, by William Wordsworth (UK, b. 7 April 1770, d. 23 April 1850). After the death of Robert Southey on 21 March 1843, Wordsworth was offered – and accepted – the Poet Laureateship on 4 April 1843, shortly before his 73rd birthday.

The longest-lived Laureate was John Masefield (UK), who was born on 1 June 1878 and died on 12 May 1967 aged 88 years 345 days.

The longest any poet has worn the laurel is 41 years 322 days in the case of Alfred (later the 1st Lord) Tennyson (1809–92), who was appointed on 19 November 1850 and died in office on 6 October 1892.