William Force Stead

William Force Stead (29 August 1884 - 8 March 1967) was an American poetryAmerican poet]] and a U.S. diplomat, who became an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his editorial work on Christopher Smart.

Life
Stead was born in Washington, D.C. and educated at the University of Virginia. He left the U.S. consular service around 1917 and was a student at Queen's College, Oxford, publishing verses in Oxford pPetry. He was ordained and spent time in Italy, before returning to Oxford and Worcester College as a Fellow. He served as chaplain of the College.

He was a friend of T.S. Eliot, and close to him at the time of his 1927 religious conversion.

He returned to an academic position in the U.S.A. in 1939. He died in Baltimore.

Publicationss

 * Moonflowers (1909)
 * Windflowers (1911)
 * Holy Innocents (1917)
 * Verd Antique (1920)
 * The Sweet Miracle (1922)
 * Wayfaring (1924)
 * Uriel: A Hymn in Praise of Divine Immanence (1933)
 * Rejoice in the lamb: a song from Bedlam by Christopher Smart (1939) editor