Poet laureate and Wordsworth died. Edward Gibbon condemned the position's artificial approach to poetry: The salary has varied, but traditionally includes some alcohol. Ben Jonson first received a pension of 100 marks, and later an annual "terse of Canary wine". Dryden had a pension of £300 and a butt of Canary wine. Pye received £27 instead of the wine. Tennyson drew £72 a year from the Lord Chamberlain's department, and £27 from the Lord Steward's "in lieu of the butt of sack". The current annual salary is £5,750. The present laureate is Carol Ann Duffy, appointed in May 2009. The United Kingdom
Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate island's first Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate. Since his election, MV Poet Laureate, Lee, H. McCormack has undertaken several public library poetry gatherings – as well as participating in the Featherstone Center for the Arts evening of "Fall Poetry and Music." Mr. McCormack is also organizing a series of workshops with island poetry groups; libraries; schools; cultural institutions, and council on aging organizations. MV Poet Laureate McCormack read his shark conservation and education poem, entitled, "The Apex", before an audience exceeding 2,000 people at the "Jaws Fest The Tribute", festival in 2012. Lee H. McCormack is a year-round Martha's Vineyard resident