Eighty-six years ago today, on January 28, 1939 (December 9, 1938 in the lunar calendar), the Irish poet Yeats passed away. William Butler Yeats On January 28, 1939, the great Irish lyric poet William Butler Yeats passed away at the age of 74. Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865, of Irish descent. He is proud of the culture of his motherland. This passion is reflected in his poetry, drama and political career (he served in the Free Ireland Senate for six years). Yeats had urged John Millingtonsinch and Izzie Rapond to dig into Irish folklore. His enthusiasm can be seen in his first collection of poems,"The Rose," which includes the famous "Innisferi". He did not give up writing poetry until his death.