Derek Walcott

Saint Lucian–Trinidadian poet and playwright (1930–2017)
Person human Q132701
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Derek Walcott was born on January 23, 1930, in Castries [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and died on March 17, 2017, in Cap Estate [11][5][6][4][7][8][9][10]. He was a poet, playwright, writer, and prose writer [1]. He received his education at the University of the West Indies and the University of London .

Walcott was honored with numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the MacArthur Fellows Program, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, the Cholmondeley Award, and the King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, along with two additional awards [12][13][14][15]. His notable works include Omeros, Dream on Monkey Mountain, and The Capeman .

He was recognized internationally for his literary contributions across multiple genres and received acclaim for his poetic and dramatic works [12][13][14][15]. His career spanned decades and reflected his deep engagement with Caribbean identity and language [1].

Derek Walcott

Summary

Derek Walcott is a human[1]. His place of birth was Castries[2]. He was born on January 23, 1930[3]. He died in Cap Estate[4]. He died on March 17, 2017[5]. He worked as a poet[6], playwright[7], writer[8], and prose writer[9]. He ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (342 views/month, #6,959 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Derek Walcott was born in Castries[2].
  • Derek Walcott died in Cap Estate[4].
  • Derek Walcott was born on January 23, 1930[3].
  • Derek Walcott died on March 17, 2017[5].
  • Among Derek Walcott's spouses was Fay Moston[11].
  • Derek Walcott was married to Margaret Maillard[12].
  • Derek Walcott was married to Norline Metivier[13].
  • A child of Derek Walcott was Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw[14].
  • Derek Walcott held citizenship in Saint Lucia[15].
  • English was Derek Walcott's native language[16].
  • Derek Walcott worked as a poet[6].
  • Derek Walcott's professions included playwright[7].
  • Derek Walcott worked as a writer[8].
  • Derek Walcott's professions included prose writer[9].
  • Among Derek Walcott's employers was Boston University[17].
  • Derek Walcott was educated at University of the West Indies[18].
  • Derek Walcott's education included a stint at University of London[19].
  • A notable work attributed to Derek Walcott is Omeros[20].
  • A notable work attributed to Derek Walcott is Dream on Monkey Mountain[21].
  • A notable work attributed to Derek Walcott is The Capeman[22].
  • Derek Walcott received the Nobel Prize in Literature[23].
  • Derek Walcott received the Guggenheim Fellowship[24].
  • Derek Walcott received the MacArthur Fellows Program[25].
  • Derek Walcott received the Officer of the Order of the British Empire[26].
  • Derek Walcott received the Cholmondeley Award[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Castries[2], Derek Walcott… he was born on January 23, 1930[3]. English was his native language[16].

Education

Educated at University of the West Indies[18], a public university[28], in Jamaica[29], founded in 1948[30] and University of London[19], a university[31], in United Kingdom[32], founded in 1836[33], headquartered in London[34].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include poet[6], playwright[7], writer[8], and prose writer[9]. Derek Walcott was employed by Boston University[17].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Omeros[20], Dream on Monkey Mountain[21], and The Capeman[22].

Recognition

Awards received include Nobel Prize in Literature[23], a literary award[35], in Sweden[36], founded in 1901[37]; Guggenheim Fellowship[24], a fellowship grant[38], in United States[39], founded in 1925[40]; MacArthur Fellows Program[25], a science award[41], in United States[42], founded in 1981[43]; Officer of the Order of the British Empire[26], a grade of an order[44], in United Kingdom[45]; Cholmondeley Award[27], a poetry award[46], in United Kingdom[47], founded in 1966[48]; and King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry[49], a poetry award[50], in United Kingdom[51], founded in 1933[52].

Personal Life

Spouses include Fay Moston[11], Margaret Maillard[12], and Norline Metivier[13]. A child of Derek Walcott was Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw[14].

Death and Burial

Derek Walcott died on March 17, 2017[5]. He passed away in Cap Estate[4].

Why It Matters

Derek Walcott ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (342 views/month, #6,959 of 1,000,298).[10] He has Wikipedia articles in 29 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[53] He is known by 20 alternative names across languages and contexts.[54]

He has been cited as an influence by Reetika Vazirani[55], a writer[56], 1962–2003[57], of United States[58], awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards[59].

Works attributed to him include Omeros[60], a written work[61].

FAQs

Where was Derek Walcott born?

Derek Walcott's place of birth was Castries[2].

Where did Derek Walcott die?

Derek Walcott passed away in Cap Estate[4].

Who was Derek Walcott married to?

Derek Walcott's spouses include Fay Moston[11], Margaret Maillard[12], and Norline Metivier[13].

What did Derek Walcott do for work?

Derek Walcott worked as poet[6], playwright[7], writer[8], and prose writer[9].

Where did Derek Walcott go to school?

Derek Walcott was educated at University of the West Indies[18] and University of London[19].

What awards did Derek Walcott receive?

Honors received include Nobel Prize in Literature[23], Guggenheim Fellowship[24], MacArthur Fellows Program[25], and Officer of the Order of the British Empire[26].

Who did Derek Walcott influence?

Derek Walcott has been cited as an influence by Reetika Vazirani[55].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . blackpast.org. blackpast.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [11] . wikidata.org.
  4. [12] . wikidata.org.
  5. [13] . wikidata.org.
  6. [15] . wikidata.org.
  7. [14] . wikidata.org.
  8. [18] . wikidata.org.
  9. [19] . wikidata.org.
  10. [16] . wikidata.org.
  11. [6] . wikidata.org.
  12. [7] . wikidata.org.
  13. [8] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [9] . wikidata.org.
  15. [17] . wikidata.org.
  16. [23] . nobelprize.org. nobelprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  17. [24] . Guggenheim Fellows database. wikidata.org.
  18. [25] . wikidata.org.
  19. [26] . wikidata.org.
  20. [27] . societyofauthors.org. societyofauthors.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [49] . wikidata.org.
  22. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . blackpast.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [5] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . repeatingislands.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [20] . wikidata.org.
  25. [21] . wikidata.org.
  26. [22] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [55] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [60] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [53] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [54] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Derek Walcott. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/derek-walcott
MLA “Derek Walcott.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/derek-walcott.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_derek-walcott_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Derek Walcott}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/derek-walcott}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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  1. 4d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-16 view diff on Wikidata ↗
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    Occupation poet, playwright, writer +1
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    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/31706|batch #31706]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (6)"
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