Poet, Chaplain to King Charles II, and Master of Peterhouse College, Cambridge. A Royalist and High-Church Anglican, Beaumont was among the group of scholars ejected from their positions at Cambridge in 1644 for refusing to accept the “Solemn League and Covenant” demanded by Parliament. Returning to his native village of Hadleigh, he composed Psyche, or Love’s Mystery, an allegorical epic that is thought to be the longest poem in the English language. In addition to Psyche, Beaumont wrote a commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, detailed notes on the Pentateuch, and a number of short Latin lyrics. In 1650 he and his wife, step-daughter of Matthew Wren, moved to her estate near Ipswich, where they remained until the Restoration, at which time Beaumont’s loyalty to the monarchy was rewarded by his being made Doctor of Divinity and Royal Chaplain. In 1663 he was named Master of Peterhouse College, his Cambridge alma mater. He remained at Peterhouse as Regius Professor of Divinity until his death. (bio by: NatalieMaynor) Cause of death: Gout