National Clerihew Day

Celebrated on 07/10/2026

Quick Fact

National Clerihew Day celebrates the clerihew, a whimsical four-line biographical poem invented by English writer Edmund Clerihew Bentley. The first clerihew was written by Bentley at age 16 in a school notebook, and the form is known for its humorous and irreverent tone. The holiday is observed on July 10th, Bentley's birthday.

Origins and Establishment of National Clerihew Day

The clerihew was invented by Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875–1956), an English novelist and humorist. While a student at St. Paul's School in London, Bentley wrote a poem about Sir Humphry Davy that began: "Sir Humphry Davy / Abominated gravy." This lighthearted biographical verse, with its AABB rhyme scheme and deliberately clumsy meter, became the first clerihew. The form was later popularized through Bentley's 1905 book Biography for Beginners, which featured 40 clerihews illustrated by his school friend G. K. Chesterton. National Clerihew Day was established to honor Bentley's birthday, July 10, and to encourage the creation and appreciation of this unique poetic form.

Evolution and Modern Commemoration

Initially a private amusement among Bentley and his friends, the clerihew gained wider recognition after the publication of Biography for Beginners. The form's simplicity and humor made it popular in schools and among amateur poets. Over time, clerihews have been written about historical figures, celebrities, and even fictional characters. Today, National Clerihew Day is celebrated by poetry enthusiasts and educators, who often host workshops, contests, and readings. Social media campaigns encourage people to share their own clerihews using hashtags like #NationalClerihewDay. The day serves as a reminder of the joy of playful, irreverent poetry.

Facts & General Observations

• The clerihew is one of the few poetic forms named after its inventor, and it remains the only form that requires the subject's name to appear in the first line.
• Biography for Beginners sold over 100,000 copies and was reprinted multiple times, cementing the clerihew in literary history.
• Clerihews have been written about figures ranging from Shakespeare to Einstein, and the form has been adapted into picture books, greeting cards, and even advertising jingles.

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