Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) Dover Beach, Growing Old LINKS No links found. BIOGRAPHY Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) Born in Middlesex, England, Arnold attended Rugby School (where his father was headmaster) and studied classics at Oxford. Following his graduation in 1844, he became a fellow at Oxford, and a master at Rugby School. In 1851, he was appointed inspector of schools in England and was sent by the government to observe educational systems in Europe. He remained in that post for some thirty-five years. As a poet, Arnold took inspiration from Greek tragedies, Keats, and Wordsworth. His collections include Empedocles on Etna and Other Poems (1852). An eminent social and literary critic in his later years, Arnold lectured in America in 1883 and 1886. His essay "The Function of Criticism" sheds light on his transition from poet to critic. Much of his work is collected in Complete Prose Works (11 volumes, 1960–1977).