<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Poet, historian </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Alma mater </Th> <Td> Peterhouse, Cambridge </Td> </Tr> <P> Thomas Gray (26 December 1716--30 July 1771) was an English poet, letter - writer, classical scholar and professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge . He is widely known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, published in 1751 . </P> <P> Gray was an extremely self - critical writer who published only 13 poems in his lifetime, despite being extremely popular . He was even offered the position of Poet Laureate in 1757, though he declined the offer . </P>

Who wrote where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise