Thomas Haynes Bayly, an English poet and dramatist, born near Bath, Oct. 13, 1797, died April 22, 1839. For a time he was a student at Oxford, with the intention of taking holy orders; but inheriting a fortune from his father, who was an eminent solicitor, he was prominent in fashionable society in Bath and London. In 1831 he met with a pecuniary reverse which compelled him to turn to account his talent for music and song-writing, and his general literary abilities, which had long before attracted favorable attention. His "Melodies of Various Nations," with musical accompaniments arranged and composed by himself and Sir Henry Bishop, appeared in 1832, and attained an immediate success. In a very few years he wrote 36 pieces for the stage, several novels and tales, and hundreds of songs. Among his best known songs are: "We met, 'twas in a crowd," "The Soldier's Tear," "Oh no, we never mention her," "Why don't the men propose?" and "I'd be a butterfly." His literary works are: "Aylmers," a novel; "Kindness in Women," a collection of tales in 3 vols.; "Parliamentary Letters and other Poems;" "Rough Sketches of Bath;" and " Weeds of Witchery," a volume of poems.

After his death his widow published 2 vols, of his poems, with a biography.