Herbert later was admitted on scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1609 where he graduated first with a Bachelors and then with a masters degree in 1613 at the age of 20.

Though sometime after he was elevated to the level of scholar. Herbert entered Westminster School at or around the age of 12 where he became a day student. Herbert's father Richard Herbert, Lord of Cherbury died when George was three, leaving a widow and ten children. His mother Magdalen was a patron and friend of John Donne and other poets his older brother Edward, later Lord Herbert of Cherbury, was an important poet and philosopher, often referred to as 'the father of English deism'. His family was wealthy, eminent, intellectual and fond of the arts. A distant relative was the modern Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert Early Life His first biographer, Izaak Walton, described Herbert on his death-bed as 'composing such hymns and anthems as he and the angels now sing in heaven'. Some of Herbert's poems have endured as hymns, including 'King of Glory, King of Peace' (Praise), 'Let All the World in Every Corner Sing' (Antiphon) and 'Teach me, my God and King' (The Elixir).

Herbert himself, in a letter to Nicholas Ferrar, said of his writings, 'they are a picture of spiritual conflicts between God and my soul before I could subject my will to Jesus, my Master'. Charles Cotton described him as a 'soul composed of harmonies'. Throughout his life, he wrote religious poems characterized by a precision of language, a metrical versatility, and an ingenious use of imagery or conceits that was favoured by the metaphysical school of poets. Henry Vaughan said of him 'a most glorious saint and seer'. He was noted for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments to them when they were ill, and providing food and clothing for those in need. In 1630, in his late thirties he gave up his secular ambitions and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as a rector of the little parish of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton St Andrew, near Salisbury. After the death of King James and at the urging of a friend, Herbert's interest in ordained ministry was renewed. Herbert served in Parliament for two years. He went to college with the intention of becoming a priest, but his scholarship attracted the attention of King James I/VI.

As a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in languages and music. George Herbert was a Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.īeing born into an artistic and wealthy family, he received a good education that led to his holding prominent positions at Cambridge University and Parliament.

Herbert metaphysical poet