William Blake (1757-1827) was born on November 28, 1757 in London. He was the third of five children and his father James was a hosier. Blake got his early education at home, mainly by his mother. When Blake was ten years old, he went to drawing school. At age 14 he was apprenticed to engraver James Basire. He finished his apprenticeship at age 21, and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Arts where he studied briefly. Following that he set out to make his living as an engraver. He also showed deep interest in poetry, printing his first work Poetical Sketches in 1783. It consisted of a collection of poems protesting against war, tyranny, and King George III's treatment of the American colonies.

At age 25 he married Catherine Boucher an illiterate woman. Blake taught her to read and to write, and also instructed her to draw and paint. They worked together on several of his artistic creations, Blake engraving the words and pictures on copper plates, and Catherine coloring the plates and binding the books.

Blake printed many of his famous works during this time. These included Songs of Innocence (1789), The Book of Thel (1789), The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790), America (1793), Songs of Experience (1794) and The Book of Urizen (1794).

In 1800 Blake moved to the seacoast town of Felpham. He taught himself Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Italian, so that he could read classical works in their original language. During this time he also experienced profound spiritual insights, which prepared him for his mature work that followed. These included Milton (1804-08), Vala, or The Four Zoas (1797; rewritten after 1800), and Jerusalem (1804-20). These work did not contain traditional plot or 'characters, but instead envisioned the triumph of human spirit over reason.

Blake's poetry did not get much appreciation from the general public during his lifetime. The lack of public recognition sent him into a severe depression for many years. He did receive some recognition, which included mention in "A Biographical Dictionary of the Living Authors of Great Britain and Ireland", published in 1816 and acknowledgement of his artistic gift from some of his peers including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and Robert Southey.

Although Blake's final years was spent in poverty also, he finally attracted a small but devoted group of young artists who called themselves "the Ancients", who served as an audience for his work and his talk. William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields, London.

Blake finally started getting recognition for his artistic ingenuity after his death and today he is highly rated both as a poet and artist.