William Collins

William Collins was a pre-Romantic English poet born in Chichester, Sussex, known for his lyrical odes that bridged Neoclassical forms with Romantic themes. He is considered one of the finest lyric poets of the 18th century, with famous works including 'Ode to Evening' and 'Persian Eclogues'. His life was marked by poverty and mental illness, and he died at the age of 37.