Surname: Hayley Forename(s): William b. 9 November 1745. d. 12 November 1820. Nationality: English. VIAF.
Poet and biographer. Born in Chichester, Sussex. Son of Thomas Hayley and his wife,
Mary (née Yates). Friends with George Romney, William Cowper, and William Blake. Educated
at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, but never completed his degree. Worked
as writer his whole life, but failed to gain any success as a dramatist before turning
to poetry. Married Eliza Ball on 23 October 1769, and following her death, married
Mary Welford on 28 March 1809. Publications include several volumes of poetry, most
notably Triumphs of Temper (1781), as well as critical work, plays, and his own memoirs. Biographical information:
ODNB. (BGL)