View source for Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer (ca.1343-1400) was an English author, philosopher, diplomat, and poet, and is best known and remembered as the author of [[The Canterbury Tales]]. He is sometimes credited with being the first author to demonstrate the artistic legitimacy of the English language. 

He was granted a gallon of [[wine]] per day for life by [[Edward III]] which under [[Richard II]] was commuted into a monetary pension.  Under Richard he had a succession of royal appointments, including periods as Comptroller of Customs of [[London]], a commissioner for peace for [[Kent]], clerk of the King's works, and a deputy-[[forest]]er in Somerset.<br>
His wife, '''Philippa''', had served in various parts of the Royal households for several years when Chaucer married her around 1366. She was the daughter of a Flemish [[knight]], and her sister, Katharine, became mistress of [[John of Gaunt]] and later married him, after the death of his first and second wives.
Their son, Thomas, also prospered, being three times made Speaker of the House of Commons.

== External Links ==
* http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer

[[Category:People (medieval)]]