1751 in poetry

Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).

Events

Christopher Smart wins the Seatonian Prize for the second year in a row. He will also win the prize in 1753 and 1755.

Richard Owen Cambridge, The Scribleriad, in six books, first published separately from January through March
Thomas Cooke, An Ode on the Powers of Poetry, published anonymously
Nathaniel Cotton, Visions in Verse, published anonymously, a verse version for children of Gay's Fables 1727
Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Church-Yard, published anonymously, a literary sensation published February 15 by Robert Dodsley in a quarto pamphlet with a preface by Horace Walpole (reprinted in Designes by Mr. R. Bentley 1753 and in Gray's Poems 1768); an important work of the Graveyard poets movement
Mary Leapor, Poems Upon several Occasions, edited by Samuel Richardson and Isaac Hawkins, published posthumously (see also Poems upon Several Occasions 1748
Moses Mendes, The Seasons
Alexander Pope, The Works of Alexander Pope, edited by William Warburton, published posthumously

Johann Jakob Bodmer:
Die Sundflutz, an epic
Noah, an epic
Solomon Gessner, Lied eines Schweizers an sein bewaffnetes Madchen, German-language work published in Switzerland

Christoph Martin Wieland, Nature of Things, alexandrine verse, in six books; Germany

Death years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

January 22 – David Richards (Dafydd Ionawr) (died 1827), Welsh poet
February 20 – Johann Heinrich Voss (died 1826), German poet
October 15 – David Samwell (Dafydd Ddu Feddyg) (died 1798), Welsh naval surgeon and poet
October 30 – Richard Brinsley Sheridan (died 1816), Irish playwright, poet, speechwriter and Whig politician
Probable date – Mary Scott (died 1793), English poet
Approximate date – Henrietta Battier (died 1813), Irish poet, satirist and actress

Birth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

April 19 – John Bancks (Banks) (born 1709), English poet and author
May 24 – William Hamilton (born 1665?), Scottish comic poet
October 26 – Philip Doddridge (born 1702), English Nonconformist preacher and writer