1696 in poetry

Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).

Events

 * Tuscan poet Vincenzo da Filicaja becomes governor of Volterra.

Works

 * Aphra Behn - The Unfortunate Happy Lady
 * John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, Poems, (&c.) On Several Occasions: with Valentinian; a Tragedy, London: Printed by Jacob Tonson, posthumously published

Births
Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
 * July 14 – William Oldys (died 1761), English antiquary, bibliographer and poet
 * Matthew Green (died 1737), English writer of light verse and customs official

Deaths
Birth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
 * January 3 – Mary Mollineux (born c.1651), English poet
 * August 9 – Wacław Potocki (born 1621), Polish nobleman (Szlachta), moralist, poet and writer
 * September 8 – Henry Birkhead (born 1617), English academic, lawyer, Latin poet and founder of the Oxford Chair of Poetry
 * November 26 – Gregório de Matos (born 1636), Brazilian Baroque poet