This biography of the renowned English eighteenth-century poet and scholar Thomas Gray (1716-1771) was originally published in 1955. The text contains extensive quotations from Gray's literary work and correspondence which are counterpoised by a highly readable narrative of his life, most of which was spent at Cambridge University. Whilst Gray's poetic output was limited for various reasons, including an extremely self-critical attitude towards his own work, he remains a figure of great importance in eighteenth-century literature. This book reflects that importance, and it will be of value to anyone with an interest in English poetry, literary biography, or the cultural environment of the 1700s.