Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic, and philosopher, born on October 21, 1772. He is best known for his contributions to the Romantic movement in literature, particularly through his famous poems like "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan". Coleridge's work often explored themes of nature, imagination, and the supernatural. In addition to his poetry, Coleridge was a prominent literary critic and co-founder of the Lake Poets group, which included notable figures like William Wordsworth. His ideas on poetry and aesthetics significantly influenced later writers and thinkers, making him a key figure in English literature.