Robert Browning was born on 7th May 1812, in Camberwell, south London. He was the elder of two children. He attended school between 1820 and 1826 but was also educated at home by tutors.

On 12th September 1846 Robert Browning married Elizabeth Barrett, also a poet, in London. They left England and went to live in Florence, Italy, for the rest of their married life.

It was only after Elizabeth's death that Robert Browning became recognised as a poet. Between 1864 and 1889 he published many poems including The Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Browning died on 12th December 1889 in Venice, and was buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, on 31st December.