Robert Southey (1774-1843), poet. Born in Bristol, Southey was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, which he left without taking a degree. He became friendly with Coleridge, eventually settling in the Lake District, where he became known as one of the 'Lake Poets', publishing ballads, poems, essays, biographies, translations, and historical studies. He was appointed poet laureate in 1813. Ruskin saw Southey as a boy (see Ruskin and Southey).