John Edward Masefield, OM (June 1878-May 1967) was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967. He is remembered as the author of the classic children’s novels The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights, two novels Captain Margaret and Multitude and Solitude and a great deal of memorable poetry, including The Everlasting Mercy , and Sea-Fever , from his anthology Salt Water Ballads.