Tennyson was the greatest poet who ever lived, when it comes to the skillful use of poetic language. He was not the most profound poet, in the sense of having something meaningful and important to say to the world. Poets such as Milton, Shakespeare, Donne, Blake surpassed Tennyson in this regard. But for the brilliant construction of beautiful verse, Tennyson has no equal. He well deserved to be made the Poet Laureate of Britain, something that can be said for only one other Poet Laureate of British history -- William Wordsworth.