Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?
Poet and Courtier. Date and Place of Birth: 1342/3. London, England. Family Background: Son of John Chaucer a prosperous wine merchant who was probably deputy to the King’s Butler. Education: St. Paul’s Cathedral School. Chronology/Biography of Geoffrey Chaucer: 1346: The English defeat the French at the Battle of Crecy. 1348-50: Main period of the Black Death (Bubonic plaque which had an appalling effect on the population numbers of Europe.) 1356: English victory at Poitiers. 1357: He became a Page in the house of Prince Lionel, later to become the Duke of Clarence. 1359-60: He served in the army of King Edward the Third in France where he was captured but released after the payment of a ransom. These monies (totaling £16) were offered through the King by various wealthy persons such as Sir William de Graunson, Knight of Burgundy; John de York, King’s Carter and his seven fellows; Geoffrey Hacking and Thomas de Staines, valetti of the Queen; between December 1359 and July 1360. 1360:
