Henry James Pye (20 February 1745 – 11 August 1813 / London, England)

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Henry James Pye was an English poet. Pye was Poet Laureate from 1790 until his death. He was the first poet laureate to receive a fixed salary of £27 instead of the historic tierce of Canary wine (though it was still a fairly nominal payment; then as now the Poet Laureate had to look to extra sales generated by the prestige of the office to make significant money from the Laureateship).

Life

Pye was born in London, the son of Henry Pye of Faringdon House in Berkshire, and his wife, Mary James, and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. His father died in 1766, leaving him a legacy of debt amounting to £50,000, and the burning of the family home further ... more »

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