John Gay, an English poet, born near Tor-rington, Devonshire, in 1688, died in London, Dec. 4, 1732. After receiving an elementary education at the grammar school of Barnstaple, he was apprenticed to a silk mercer in London, but soon abandoned this business for literary pursuits. In 1711 he produced his poem " Rural Sports," which he dedicated to Pope, and a lifelong friendship sprung up between the two poets. In the following year he became secretary to the duchess of Monmouth. His next work,The Shepherd's Week," was written to throw ridicule on the pastorals of Ambrose Philips, and met with great success. In 1713 he brought out a comedy called The Wife of Bath," which was acted only three nights. In 1714 he accompanied the British ambassador, Lord Clarendon, to Hanover as secretary. On the death of Queen Anne, however, he was dismissed from office, and driven once more to use his pen as a means of support. Soon after returning to England he produced a drama entitled -What d'ye Call It?" which was so well received that he made another attempt of a similar nature, in which he is said to have been assisted by Pope and Arbuthnot. Owing to its personality and indelicacy, his "Three Hours after Marriage proved a decided failure, and involved its author for a time in disgrace.

In 1727 his celebrated "Beggar's Opera was brought on the stage, and was represented for 62 successive nights, four of which were for his own benefit, and yielded him nearly £700. This piece was followed by another opera entitled "Polly;" but the lord chamberlain forbade its representation, and Gay was constrained to publish it by subscription, by which he realized £1,100 or £1,200. The most important of his other works are Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London," and his "Fables," which are among the best of their kind in the language. Of his minor poems, the ballads of Black-eyed Susan" and ' "Twas when the Sea was Roaring" are the most popular. Gay was at one time rich, but he lost nearly all his property by the bursting of the South sea bubble. His latter days were spent in the house of the duke of Queens-berry. The prominent characteristics of his poetry are wit, simplicity, and sweetness. The best edition of his poetical works is that of W. Coxe (3 vols., London, 1797; 2 vols., 1806); the best edition of his "Fables," that of O. F. Owen (London, 1856).