Edward James "Ted" Hughes, OM (17 August 1930 – 28 October 1998) was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath from 1956 until her suicide in 1963 at age 30. His part in the relationship became controversial to some feminists and some American admirers of Plath.