Philip Larkin

English writer, jazz critic and librarian (1922-1985)
Person human Q313758
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Philip Larkin

Summary

Philip Larkin is a human[1]. He was born in Coventry[2]. He was born on August 9, 1922[3]. He passed away in Kingston upon Hull[4]. He died on December 2, 1985[5]. He worked as a poet[6], librarian[7], novelist[8], writer[9], and music journalist[10]. He ranks in the top 0.65% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (2,180 views/month, #6,550 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Philip Larkin's place of birth was Coventry[2].
  • Philip Larkin passed away in Kingston upon Hull[4].
  • Philip Larkin was born on August 9, 1922[3].
  • Philip Larkin died on December 2, 1985[5].
  • Burial took place at Cottingham[12].
  • Philip Larkin held citizenship in United Kingdom[13].
  • Philip Larkin worked as a poet[6].
  • Philip Larkin's professions included librarian[7].
  • Philip Larkin worked as a novelist[8].
  • Philip Larkin worked as a writer[9].
  • Philip Larkin worked as a music journalist[10].
  • Philip Larkin worked as a music critic[14].
  • Philip Larkin's field of work was jazz[15].
  • Philip Larkin held the position of Booker Prize judge[16].
  • Philip Larkin was employed by University of Hull[17].
  • Philip Larkin was employed by University of Leicester[18].
  • Philip Larkin's education included a stint at St John's College[19].
  • Philip Larkin was educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry[20].
  • Philip Larkin received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire[21].
  • Philip Larkin received the Cholmondeley Award[22].
  • Philip Larkin received the King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry[23].
  • Philip Larkin received the Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature[24].
  • Philip Larkin received the Russell Loines Award for Poetry[25].
  • Philip Larkin was a member of Royal Society of Literature[26].
  • Philip Larkin was a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Coventry[2], Philip Larkin… he was born on August 9, 1922[3].

Education

Educated at St John's College[19], a college of the University of Oxford[28], in United Kingdom[29], founded in 1555[30], headquartered in Oxford[31] and King Henry VIII School, Coventry[20], a school[32], in United Kingdom[33], founded in 1980[34].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include poet[6], librarian[7], novelist[8], writer[9], music journalist[10], and music critic[14]. Philip Larkin's field of work was jazz[15]. Employers include University of Hull[17], a public university[35], in United Kingdom[36], founded in 1927[37] and University of Leicester[18], a university[38], in United Kingdom[39], founded in 1921[40], headquartered in Leicester[41]. He held the position of Booker Prize judge[16].

Recognition

Awards received include Commander of the Order of the British Empire[21], a grade of an order[42], in United Kingdom[43]; Cholmondeley Award[22], a poetry award[44], in United Kingdom[45], founded in 1966[46]; King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry[23], a poetry award[47], in United Kingdom[48], founded in 1933[49]; Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature[24], a fellowship award[50], in United Kingdom[51]; and Russell Loines Award for Poetry[25], a poetry award[52].

Death and Burial

Philip Larkin died on December 2, 1985[5]. He died in Kingston upon Hull[4]. The cause of death was esophageal cancer[53]. He is buried at Cottingham[12].

Why It Matters

Philip Larkin ranks in the top 0.65% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (2,180 views/month, #6,550 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 23 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[54] He is known by 17 alternative names across languages and contexts.[55]

FAQs

Where was Philip Larkin born?

Philip Larkin was born in Coventry[2].

Where did Philip Larkin die?

Philip Larkin died in Kingston upon Hull[4].

What did Philip Larkin do for work?

Philip Larkin worked as poet[6], librarian[7], novelist[8], writer[9], and music journalist[10].

Where did Philip Larkin go to school?

Philip Larkin was educated at St John's College[19] and King Henry VIII School, Coventry[20].

What awards did Philip Larkin receive?

Honors received include Commander of the Order of the British Empire[21], Cholmondeley Award[22], King’s / Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry[23], and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature[24].

References

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

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [13] . wikidata.org.
  4. [16] . thebookerprizes.com. thebookerprizes.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  5. [19] . wikidata.org.
  6. [20] . wikidata.org.
  7. [15] . wikidata.org.
  8. [6] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [7] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [8] . wikidata.org.
  11. [9] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [10] . wikidata.org.
  13. [14] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [17] . wikidata.org.
  15. [18] . wikidata.org.
  16. [12] . wikidata.org.
  17. [21] . wikidata.org.
  18. [22] . societyofauthors.org. societyofauthors.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [23] . wikidata.org.
  20. [24] . wikidata.org.
  21. [25] . wikidata.org.
  22. [26] . wikidata.org.
  23. [27] . wikidata.org.
  24. [53] . wikidata.org.
  25. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  26. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.

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. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

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

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [54] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [55] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Philip Larkin. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/philip-larkin
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 2d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation poet, librarian, novelist +4
    Plaque image ['Philip Larkin at Coventry Station - geograph.org.uk - 5474416.jpg', 'Larkin pl
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32084|batch #32084]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (26)"
  2. 15d ago · Gerwoman · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Image purged at
    Image purged license
    Sancho el sabio foundation id 354829
    Image last checked license
    + 2 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30423|batch #30423]]"
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