WRITER
James Merrill
1926 - 1995

James Merrill
James Ingram Merrill (March 3, 1926 – February 6, 1995) was an American poet. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1977 for Divine Comedies. His poetry falls into two distinct bodies of work: the polished and formalist lyric poetry of his early career, and the epic narrative of occult communication with spirits and angels, titled The Changing Light at Sandover (published in three volumes from 1976 to 1980), which dominated his later career. Although most of his published work was poetry, he also wrote essays, fiction, and plays. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 17 different languages on Wikipedia. James Merrill is the 6,776th most popular writer (up from 6,820th in 2024), the 14,132nd most popular biography from United States (up from 14,250th in 2019) and the 998th most popular American Writer.
Memorability Metrics
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Among WRITERS
Among writers, James Merrill ranks 6,776 out of 7,302. Before him are Miro Gavran, Edward Thomas, Toru Dutt, Nicholas Monsarrat, Màrius Serra, and Christopher Moore. After him are Durs Grünbein, Elena Chizhova, Nagaru Tanigawa, Arkady Babchenko, James K. Morrow, and Asko Parpola.
Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsMiro Gavran
1961 - Present
HPI: 47.97
Rank: 6,770
Edward Thomas
1878 - 1917
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 6,771
Toru Dutt
1856 - 1877
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 6,772
Nicholas Monsarrat
1910 - 1979
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 6,773
Màrius Serra
1963 - Present
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 6,774
Christopher Moore
1957 - Present
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 6,775
James Merrill
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 6,776
Durs Grünbein
1962 - Present
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 6,777
Elena Chizhova
1957 - Present
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 6,778
Nagaru Tanigawa
1970 - Present
HPI: 47.92
Rank: 6,779
Arkady Babchenko
1977 - Present
HPI: 47.92
Rank: 6,780
James K. Morrow
1947 - Present
HPI: 47.91
Rank: 6,781
Asko Parpola
1941 - Present
HPI: 47.89
Rank: 6,782
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1926, James Merrill ranks 550. Before him are Chuck Arnold, Lurleen Wallace, Pete Lovely, Narinder Singh Kapany, Art Bisch, and Hazel Court. After him are Bud Yorkin, Alex Groza, James M. Beggs, Kenneth Richmond, Mathilde Krim, and John Dingell. Among people deceased in 1995, James Merrill ranks 326. Before him are Harry Golombek, Albert Hackett, Charlie Rich, Andrea Fortunato, Odette Hallowes, and Paul Kipkoech. After him are Alex Groza, Paul Eddington, Genevieve Tobin, Oveta Culp Hobby, Kay Aldridge, and Gale Gordon.
Others Born in 1926
Go to all RankingsChuck Arnold
RACING DRIVER
1926 - 1997
HPI: 48.61
Rank: 544
Lurleen Wallace
POLITICIAN
1926 - 1968
HPI: 48.61
Rank: 545
Pete Lovely
RACING DRIVER
1926 - 2011
HPI: 48.53
Rank: 546
Narinder Singh Kapany
PHYSICIST
1926 - 2020
HPI: 48.37
Rank: 547
Art Bisch
RACING DRIVER
1926 - 1958
HPI: 48.20
Rank: 548
Hazel Court
ACTOR
1926 - 2008
HPI: 48.18
Rank: 549
James Merrill
WRITER
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 550
Bud Yorkin
FILM DIRECTOR
1926 - 2015
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 551
Alex Groza
BASKETBALL PLAYER
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.73
Rank: 552
James M. Beggs
BUSINESSPERSON
1926 - 2020
HPI: 47.58
Rank: 553
Kenneth Richmond
WRESTLER
1926 - 2006
HPI: 47.49
Rank: 554
Mathilde Krim
PHYSICIAN
1926 - 2018
HPI: 47.10
Rank: 555
John Dingell
POLITICIAN
1926 - 2019
HPI: 46.73
Rank: 556
Others Deceased in 1995
Go to all RankingsHarry Golombek
CHESS PLAYER
1911 - 1995
HPI: 49.43
Rank: 320
Albert Hackett
ACTOR
1900 - 1995
HPI: 49.36
Rank: 321
Charlie Rich
SINGER
1932 - 1995
HPI: 48.33
Rank: 322
Andrea Fortunato
SOCCER PLAYER
1971 - 1995
HPI: 48.25
Rank: 323
Odette Hallowes
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1912 - 1995
HPI: 48.16
Rank: 324
Paul Kipkoech
ATHLETE
1963 - 1995
HPI: 47.97
Rank: 325
James Merrill
WRITER
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 326
Alex Groza
BASKETBALL PLAYER
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.73
Rank: 327
Paul Eddington
ACTOR
1927 - 1995
HPI: 47.72
Rank: 328
Genevieve Tobin
ACTOR
1899 - 1995
HPI: 47.67
Rank: 329
Oveta Culp Hobby
POLITICIAN
1905 - 1995
HPI: 47.16
Rank: 330
Kay Aldridge
ACTOR
1917 - 1995
HPI: 46.85
Rank: 331
Gale Gordon
ACTOR
1906 - 1995
HPI: 46.53
Rank: 332
In United States
Among people born in United States, James Merrill ranks 14,136 out of 20,380. Before him are Bill Pope (1952), Jerry Maren (1920), Craig L. Thomas (1933), Grace Abbott (1878), Christopher Moore (1957), and Vince Edwards (1928). After him are Sean Kinney (1966), Odell Beckham Jr. (1992), Erick Morillo (1971), Tank Abbott (1965), Jerry Nelson (1934), and DJ Ashba (1972).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsBill Pope
FILM DIRECTOR
1952 - Present
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 14,130
Jerry Maren
ACTOR
1920 - 2018
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 14,131
Craig L. Thomas
POLITICIAN
1933 - 2007
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 14,132
Grace Abbott
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1878 - 1939
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,133
Christopher Moore
WRITER
1957 - Present
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,134
Vince Edwards
ACTOR
1928 - 1996
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,135
James Merrill
WRITER
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,136
Sean Kinney
MUSICIAN
1966 - Present
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,137
Odell Beckham Jr.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER
1992 - Present
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,138
Erick Morillo
MUSICIAN
1971 - 2020
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 14,139
Tank Abbott
MARTIAL ARTS
1965 - Present
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 14,140
Jerry Nelson
SINGER
1934 - 2012
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 14,141
DJ Ashba
MUSICIAN
1972 - Present
HPI: 47.93
Rank: 14,142
Among WRITERS In United States
Among writers born in United States, James Merrill ranks 998. Before him are Steven S. DeKnight (1910), Sharon Olds (1942), Cecily von Ziegesar (1970), Countee Cullen (1903), Audrey Niffenegger (1963), and Christopher Moore (1957). After him are James K. Morrow (1947), Laurell K. Hamilton (1963), Paul Dini (1957), Robert Olen Butler (1945), Tracy Hickman (1955), and Dennis Prager (1948).
Steven S. DeKnight
1910 - Present
HPI: 48.08
Rank: 992
Sharon Olds
1942 - Present
HPI: 48.07
Rank: 993
Cecily von Ziegesar
1970 - Present
HPI: 48.03
Rank: 994
Countee Cullen
1903 - 1946
HPI: 48.03
Rank: 995
Audrey Niffenegger
1963 - Present
HPI: 48.01
Rank: 996
Christopher Moore
1957 - Present
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 997
James Merrill
1926 - 1995
HPI: 47.94
Rank: 998
James K. Morrow
1947 - Present
HPI: 47.91
Rank: 999
Laurell K. Hamilton
1963 - Present
HPI: 47.89
Rank: 1,000
Paul Dini
1957 - Present
HPI: 47.87
Rank: 1,001
Robert Olen Butler
1945 - Present
HPI: 47.83
Rank: 1,002
Tracy Hickman
1955 - Present
HPI: 47.82
Rank: 1,003
Dennis Prager
1948 - Present
HPI: 47.81
Rank: 1,004
























































