1865-1939
Biography
The first person from Ireland to win the Nobel Prize, William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was one of the great intellectual figures of the 20th century. Born in Dublin, the poet and dramatist played an active role in his country’s political and cultural history, serving as a senator of the Irish Free State and leading the Irish Literary Revival. A passionate nationalist, Yeats incorporated Irish folklore into his work throughout his career.