Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was an English poet, literary critic, and philosopher. He was a major figure in the Romantic movement and is best known for his long narrative poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Coleridge was also a prolific writer of prose, including the Biographia Literaria and Aids to Reflection. He was a close friend of William Wordsworth and together they founded the influential literary magazine The Lyrical Ballads. Coleridge's work was highly influential in the development of English literature and he is considered one of the most important figures of the Romantic era.