Home › G › Gray (THOMAS an English poet born)

Gray (THOMAS an English poet born)

THOMAS, an English poet; born in London, England, Dec. 26, 1716.

He was educated at Eton, and Peter House, Cambridge, and entered at the Inner Temple, with a view of studying for the bar. Becoming intimate, however, with Horace Walpole, he accomlege" appeared; and it was only in conthey parted at Reggio, and Gray returned to England in 1741. In 1747 his "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" appeared; and it was only in contious copy, that, in 1751, he published his "Elegy Written in a Country Church- yard." He declined the office of laureate tious copy, that, in 1751, he published his "Elegy Written in a Country Churchon Cibber's death, in 1757; and the same yard." He declined the office of laureate year published his odes "On the Progress of Poesy" and "The Bard." In 1768 the Duke of Grafton presented him with the Professorship of Modern History at Cambridge. He was a man of extensive acquirements in natural history, the study of ancient architecture, etc.; his corre- spondence places him among the best of ancient architecture, etc.; his corre- Eton, England, July 30, 1771. spondence places him among the best English epistolary writers. He died in Eton, England, July 30, 1771.