Edmund Spenser (1552 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of nascent Modern English verse, and he is considered one of the great poets in the English language. Though celebrated for his contributions to English literature, Spenser is also a controversial figure due to his advocacy for the destruction of Irish culture and colonization of Ireland.