The first Poet Laureate was created today, 13th April back in 1668. This honour fell to John Dryden, who was also the only Poet Laureate to be sacked from his job. His dismissal had nothing to do with the quality of his poems – he just fell out with the King over religion. 
Dryden supported the Puritans in his early days, but when Protestant Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, Dryden welcomed him to the throne as “His Sacred Majesty”, his appointment as Poet Laureate 8 years later being a reward.
Fast forward to 1685 and Catholic James II came to the throne. The former Puritan then wrote a poem praising the Church of Rome and attacking the Church of England. But then William III, a staunch Protestant, took over the throne and Dryden gave up trying to adjust his religious sails to the prevailing wind and stood by his Catholic faith.
William was none too chuffed with this and so sacked him.
Dryden supported the Puritans in his early days, but when Protestant Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, Dryden welcomed him to the throne as “His Sacred Majesty”, his appointment as Poet Laureate 8 years later being a reward.
Fast forward to 1685 and Catholic James II came to the throne. The former Puritan then wrote a poem praising the Church of Rome and attacking the Church of England. But then William III, a staunch Protestant, took over the throne and Dryden gave up trying to adjust his religious sails to the prevailing wind and stood by his Catholic faith.
William was none too chuffed with this and so sacked him.