The British poet, Henry James Pye, was born in London on February 20, 1745. Educated in Oxford at Magdalen College, Pye received his Master of Arts Degree in 1766. The future poet's father, a Berkshire landowner, died in the same year leaving Pye a legacy of debt amounting to 50,000. Henry Pye's home was also burned in Great Faringdon further increasing his difficulties.
In 1784, Pye was elected as MP for Berkshire. After holding the post for five years, he sold his paternal estate, retired from parliament, and became a police magistrate for Westminster. In 1790, Pye was made poet laureate as a reward for his faithful support of William Pitt the Younger in the House of Commons. His elevation to laureate was looked on as ridiculous in literary circles where he was considered a jest, or a byword. Pye, however, was determined to gain recognition as a poet. Although he had no command of language whatsoever, he wrote birthday odes, prize poems, Pindaric odes, verse-essays on beauty and ballooning, and duty ditties of his post. Generally, Pye's poetry is considered typical eighteenth century verse, but it is empty and swept of poetical life. Indeed, Pye's successor, Robert Southey, wrote in 1814: "I have been rhyming as doggedly and dully as if my name had been Henry James Pye."
Despite all of Pye's critical contemporaries, he published many volumes of verse. His most noteworthy work is his prose Summary of the Duties of a Justice of the Peace Out of Sessions, which was published in 1808. Pye also wrote an elaborate epic poem in 1801 entitled Alfred. This poem was divided into six books, and was technically flawless, but poetically empty. In addition to his original works, Pye translated Aristotle's Poetics. Henry James Pye was also the first poet to receive a fixed salary of 27 instead of the historic tierce of Canary wine.
Unfortunately, Pye's legacy is remembered as one of the unfortunate few who have been classified as a "poetaster." He died at Pinner, Middlesex on August 11, 1813.
Prose
-Summary of the Duties of a Justice of the Peace out of Sessions (1808)
Poetry
-Poems on Various Subjects (1787), first substantial collection of Pye's verse
-Alfred (1801)
Translations
-Aristotle's Poetics (1792)
This biography is adapted from the following sources: Oldpoetry.com: A Classical Poetry Archive, Bartleby.com, Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, Bibliopoly by Ximenes Rare Books Inc., Open-site.org.