Carey, Henry

Carey, Henry, 1687–1743, English author. After the first collection of his poems appeared in 1713, he turned to writing for the stage. Primarily a writer of farce comedy, his greatest success was Chrononhotonthologos (1734), a burlesque on theatrical bombast. He is best remembered, however, for his songs, in particular the ballad “Sally in Our Alley.” He has been suggested as, but not proved to be, the composer of God Save the King.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: English Literature, 1500 to 1799: Biographies