Matthew Arnold was born on December 24, 1822, in Laleham, a village near London, England. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, a famous educator and headmaster of Rugby School. Growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment, Arnold received a solid education and developed a deep love for literature and learning.

Arnold began his career as a school inspector, a job that took him to different parts of England and Wales. During his travels, he wrote poetry and essays. His poetry collection, “The Strayed Reveller, and Other Poems,” was published in 1849. He later released several other collections, including “Empedocles on Etna” (1852) and “Poems: A New Edition” (1867).

Arnold’s poetry often explored themes of disillusionment, modernity, and the tension between faith and doubt. He is well-known for his reflective and intellectual style.

Apart from poetry, Arnold wrote influential essays and literary criticism. His essays on culture and society, collected in books such as “Culture and Anarchy” (1869) and “Essays in Criticism” (1865, 1888), examined the role of culture in society and advocated for a balanced intellectual and moral development.

In his later years, Arnold worked as a professor of poetry at Oxford University. He continued to write essays and poetry, gaining recognition for his insightful critique of contemporary society and literature.

Matthew Arnold passed away on April 15, 1888, in Liverpool, England. His legacy as a cultural critic, poet, and educational thinker endures. His writings continue to be studied and appreciated for their intellectual depth and eloquence, and he is remembered as a key figure in Victorian literature and cultural criticism.