John Keats (1795-1812), poet. Born London, parents died in his childhood. Apprenticed to an apothecary surgeon, he began writing poetry in his late teens, in 1816, abandoning his profession to devote himself to poetry. His first volume of poems was published in 1817, attracting critical scorn and meager sales. He contracted tuberculosis in 1818, but wrote some of his most notable poetry in that year, including 'The Eve of St Agnes', 'The Eve of St Mark', the 'Ode to Psyche', 'La Belle Dame sans Merci', 'Ode to a Nightingale', 'Ode on a Grecian Urn', 'Ode on Melancholy', 'Ode on Indolence' and the first part of 'Lamia'. His second volume of poetry was published in 1820 as Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St Agnes, and Other Poems, including Hyperion.