1785 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature.
Events
- April 14 - Death of English poet William Whitehead in London. Reverend Thomas Warton succeeds him as Poet Laureate of Great Britain after the refusal of William Mason.
- May 22 - Scottish poet Robert Burns' first child, Elizabeth, is born to his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton.
Works published in English
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- Samuel Egerton Brydges, Sonnets and other Poems, published anonymously
- Robert Burns, "To A Mouse", "Halloween"
- Colman, George, and Bonnell Thornton, eds. Poems by the most eminent ladies of Great Britain and Ireland. Re-published from the collection of G. Colman and B. Thornton, Esqrs., with considerable alterations, additions, and improvements. London: W. Stafford, 1785: 2nd ed. of one of the earliest anthologies of women's writing in English
- William Combe, The Royal Dream; or, The P ''in a Panic, published anonymously
- William Cowper, The Task, Volume 2 of Poems, in addition to the title poem, the book includes "The Diverting History of John Gilpin", "An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq.", "Tirocinium; or, A Review of Schools"
- George Crabbe, The News-Paper
- William Hayley, A Philosophical, Historical and Moral Essay on Old Maids
- Samuel Johnson, The Works of Samuel Johnson, poetry and prose in 11 volumes
- Hannah More, Sensibility: A Poetical Epistle, United Kingdom
- Edward Lovibond, Poems on Several Occasions
- Charles Wilkins, Bhagvat-geeta, or Dialogues of Kreeshna and Arjoon
- John Wolcot, writing under the pen name "Peter Pindar":
- * The Lousiad, Canto 1
- * Lyric Odes, for the Year 1785
- Ann Yearsley, Poems, on Several Occasions''
Works published in other languages
- János Bacsanyi, The Valour of the Magyars, Hungary
- Jens Baggesen, Comic Tales, written in imitation of Voltaire; Denmark
- Friedrich Schiller, Ode to Joy, Germany
Births
Death years link to the corresponding " in poetry" article:- January 13 - Samuel Woodworth, American author, literary journalist, playwright, librettist and poet
- March 7 - Alessandro Manzoni, Italian poet and novelist
- April 4 - Bettina von Arnim, German writer, poet, composer and novelist
- April 6 - John Pierpont, American poet, teacher, lawyer, merchant and Congregational minister
- October 18 - Thomas Love Peacock, English satirical novelist and writer
- November 13 - Lady Caroline Lamb, born the Honourable Caroline Ponsonby, English aristocrat, novelist and poet best known for her affair with Lord Byron
- Also:
- * Bhojo Bhagat, Indian, Gujarati-language devotional poet
- * Gopala Krishna Pattanayak, Indian, Oriya-language poet
Deaths
Birth years link to the corresponding " in poetry" article:- January 19 - Zaharije Orfelin, Serbian educator, administrator, poet, engraver, lexicographer, herbalist, historian, winemaker, translator, editor, publisher, polemicist and traveler
- April 14 - William Whitehead, English poet and playwright
- April 26 - Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff, German
- April 27 - Henry Taylor, Church of England clergyman, author and poet
- September 17 - Antoine Léonard Thomas, French poet
- November 25 - Richard Glover, English poet
- December 29 - Johan Herman Wessel, Norwegian poet