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Henry James Pye

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Poet

The Resume

    (February 20, 1745-August 11, 1813)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Member of Parliament (1784-90)
    Wrote ‘Poems on Various Subjects’ (1787) and ‘Alfred’ (1801)
    Poet Laureate (1790-1813)

Why he might be annoying:

    His appointment as poet laureate had less to do with his literary abilities than with his support of Pitt the Younger.
    His successor, Robert Southey, wrote, ‘I am rhyming as doggedly and dully as if my name had been Henry James Pye.’

Why he might not be annoying:

    He inherited debts of 50,000 pounds when his father died.
    His first ode to George III was so full of allusions to songbirds it inspired the famed lines, ‘When the Pye was opened the birds began to sing/Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 70.83% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 26 Votes: 65.38% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 78.79% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 52 Votes: 73.08% Annoying