Henry Carey
Henry Carey was an English poet, playwright, and musician, likely born in Yorkshire in 1687. He is believed to have been the illegitimate son of George Savile, the first marquis of Halifax, receiving support from prominent Whigs early in his career. Carey gained recognition for his poem "Sally in Our Alley," which not only showcased the lives of the working class but also inspired musical adaptations. His contributions to the theatrical landscape included plays that transitioned into successful ballad operas, notably "The Contrivances," which enjoyed considerable popularity in the 18th century. Additionally, Carey's satire "Namby Pamby" introduced a phrase that would enter the English lexicon. Throughout his life, he focused on music and song composition, even as he faced challenges, including a lack of recognition for potentially writing "God Save the King." Carey's life ended in mystery in 1743, with suggestions of suicide, and his legacy includes both his artistic works and his familial connections, including a descendant who became a notable tragic actor.
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Henry Carey
Poet
- Born: On or about August 26, 1687
- Birthplace: Yorkshire, England
- Died: October 5, 1743
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
While the details of Henry Carey’s origins are sketchy, he was probably born in Yorkshire, England, in 1687. Carey was reportedly the illegitimate son of George Savile (1633- 1695), the first marquis of Halifax, but his father may have been the marquis’s son, George. His mother may have been a schoolmistress named Carey. The marquis was a powerful Whig politician, and Carey received the support of prominent Whigs early in his London career. He is reported to have received a pension from the Savile family throughout his life. There is evidence he married his wife, Sarah, in 1708, perhaps using the name Henry Savile.
He published Poems on Several Occasions, in 1713 as Henry Carey. His first play, The Contrivances: Or, More Ways than One, was performed in London in 1715. Around the same time, he published his best-known poem, “Sally in Our Alley,” composing music to accompany the poem. The sentimental song inspired two stage musicals, one by Jerome Kern and P. G. Wodehouse. “Sally in Our Alley” was also notable in its time by presenting the working class and a world of poverty not often depicted in English poetry. Its success led to Carey’s inclusion in the circle of the noted essayist Joseph Addison. Another poem, “Namby Pamby,” a satire of the sentimental poetry of Ambrose Philips, contributed the title phrase to the English language.
At this time, Carey concentrated on studying music and writing songs while teaching at boarding schools. Carey added songs to existing stage productions and contributed to the popular ballad operas before advancing to such plays as The Contrivances, which became a hit after he changed it from a farce to a ballad opera. It was performed nearly two hundred times during the eighteenth century. The Dragon of Wantley, a parody of Italian operas, ran for sixty-seven performances, more than John Gay’s much better known The Beggar’s Opera. Carey’s native Yorkshire is the setting for what many consider his best work as playwright and composer, The Honest Yorkshire-Man. Carey also wrote political satires. Pudding and Dumpling Burnt to Pot attacks writer Jonathan Swift and statesman Sir Robert Walpole, accusing the latter of bribery. In 1740, Carey published his last works, three burlesque cantatas, writing nothing more during the last three years of his life.
He died in mysterious circumstances on October 5, 1743. One contemporary source suggests he committed suicide. Though Carey considered himself primarily a musician, his plays and poetry have had a more lasting reputation than his musical compositions, though some sources have suggested he may have written “God Save the King,” the British national anthem. In 1795, his son, George Savile Carey, applied for a pension from the king because his father had received no compensation for creating the words and music of the anthem, but his appeal was unsuccessful. One of Carey’s descendents was the great tragic actorEdmund Kean (1787- 1833).