1785 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).
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 ("Dear-bought Bess"), is born to his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton.
Works published in English
Samuel Egerton Brydges, Sonnets and other Poems, published anonymously
Robert Burns, "To A Mouse", "Halloween"
William Combe, The Royal Dream; or, The P[rince] in a Panic, published anonymously
William Cowper, The Task, Volume 2 of Poems, in addition to the title poem, the book includes "The History of John Gilpin" (a poem first published in 1782), "An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq.", "Tirocinium; or, A Review of Schools" (first volume of Poems published 1782, Poems 1815)
George Crabbe, The News-Paper
William Hayley, A Philosophical, Historical and Moral Essay on Old Maids
