Ted Hughes was born in Mytholmroyd in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 17 August 1930. His full name was Edward James Hughes.

He spent his early childhood in the Calder Valley, where animals and the surrounding countryside became important interests. His family later moved to Mexborough in South Yorkshire. After National Service in the RAF, Hughes went to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied archaeology and anthropology after initially taking English.

His first poetry collection, The Hawk in the Rain, was published in 1957. Animals and the natural world became recurrent subjects in his poetry, often combined with his interest in myth and folklore.

Hughes later published collections including Crow and Birthday Letters. He also wrote for children, with The Iron Man becoming one of his best-known books outside his poetry.

In 1984, Hughes succeeded John Betjeman as Poet Laureate. He held the position until his death in October 1998.