Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in 1772, the 14th child of a Devon clergyman. Before his death in 1834, he wrote hundreds of poems and prose works (often of a religious or spiritual nature) which have become recognised as significant components of the Romantic canon. His work was varied, ranging from short lyrical ballads through epic supernatural poems to long philosophical tomes. He is often seen as playing second fiddle to his close friend Wordsworth's lead, but was responsible for shaping much of the other's major writing. Coleridge's work is often beautiful, strange and haunting. His poems are still popular today, especially famous pieces like The Eolian Harp , The Rime of the Ancient Mariner , Christabel and, perhaps the best known, Kubla Khan .