John Keats’ Birthday: 5 facts about the Romantic-era poet

John Keats

Born on October 31, 1795, in London, Keats was a Romantic-era poet who trained as a surgeon before finding his true passion in poetry

Legacy

Gone at 25, yet immortal through his words, Keats is now celebrated as one of English literature’s most enduring voices

Philosophy

He believed in “Negative Capability” — accepting doubt and uncertainty as essential to creativity and understanding beauty

Writing style and theme

Keats’ poetry blends vivid imagery and deep emotion, capturing the fleeting nature of life and the eternal power of beauty

Famous works

His classics include Ode to a Nightingale, Ode on a Grecian Urn, and To Autumn, reflecting on beauty, love, and mortality