June 1, 1878

A summary of John Masefield's informative years says:

'John Edward Masefield [June 1, 1878 to May 12, 1967] was born in Herefordshire, England. His idyllic childhood was shattered by the premature death of his mother in 1885 and father in 1891. Thereafter, Masefield and his siblings were entrusted to the guardianship of a domineering aunt. Though exhibiting literary pretensions and no little talent, his new guardian determined that he enrol in the Merchant Marine.

'Masefield’s maiden voyage to Chile in 1894, aged only 15, proved disastrous. His constitution had always been weak: too weak, indeed, to suffer a 32-day storm off Cape Horn that he had to endure. Depleted in strength, he became gravely ill soon after arrival and was deemed unfit to continue duty. He was returned to England via the Panama isthmus. Masefield’s aunt, however, insisted that he continue in the service. Against his wishes, he sailed for New York in the spring of 1895. It was his final voyage as, on arrival, Masefield resigned.

'He did not return to England until 1897: this American adventure was revelatory as, while there, he committed himself to a literary vocation. On returning to London he met and formed an enduring friendship with W. B. Yeats, and began the prolific literary output that would characterise the rest of his life.'

In 1912 Masefield wrote a story in verses he titled "Daffodil Fields." In an account in the volume The Poems and Plays of John Masefield: Poems (1922 edition) the poet says he got the story  from a footnote to Sir John McKenzie's Travels in Iceland. The footnote says the events described happened in the 11th century. All we will mention now is this picture of what may have been a medieval cat

'Old Mother Occleve stretched her sewing flat. "It's nine," she said. Old Occleve stroked the cat. "Ah, cat," he said, "hast had good go at mouse?" Lion sat listening tense to all within the house.'
John Masefield, became poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1930.