Edmund Spenser was an English poet born in 1552 in East Smithfield, London. He is best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory that celebrates the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. The work stands as one of the major achievements of English literature. Spenser is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of nascent Modern English verse, demonstrating exceptional skill in the development and refinement of poetic form during a formative period in the English language. His contributions to English poetry were substantial and influential, establishing him among the great poets in the English literary canon. Spenser died in London on January 13, 1599.