It is a neoclassic revival of the Greek custom of crowning bards with Apollo's signatory laurel. The actual British Celtic honor would normally be Bard, a druidic honor or great power. Was Tennyson the first modern Laureate? A nationalistic honr of the British speaking Empire and quite impressive as was that poet's opus. Once he received the honor he had trouble performing for the duty. Has proliferated too much already to any sectarian, mainly nationalistic symbolism without much advancing the actual writing of poetry.(posted 7838 days ago)The French had their pecking order in an organizational committee, often equally destructive to the production of genuine poetry.