Profile of the Day: W.B. Yeats

W.B. Yeats

Do you have Irish ancestry? On this day in 1939, renowned Irish poet William Butler Yeats died in Menton, France.

W.B. Yeats was born on June 13, 1865 in Dublin, Ireland to John Butler Yeats and Susan Mary Pollexfen. His mother had come from a wealthy merchant family, who owned a milling and shipping business. Yeats grew up in a creative and artistic family; his father had abandoned his studies of law to become an artist himself.

Considered one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature, Yeats became the first Irishman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. He continued writing up until his death in 1939, with many believing that some of his greatest and most important works were written after he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Yeats died on January 28, 1939 while abroad in France.

How are you related to William Butler Yeats? Explore his family tree to discover your connection to the Irish poet!
 

View W.B. Yeats’s Geni Profile

Image: Wikimedia Commons