<P> The letter was written in London on 31 May 1789 by Hester Margaretta, Lady Newdigate, to her husband, Sir Roger Newdigate, 5th Baronet, and refers to a wish for their wedding day . </P> <P> A much earlier reference is found in Joseph Addison's newspaper The Freeholder: </P> <P> The usual Salutation to a Man upon his Birth - day among the ancient Romans was Multos & foelices; in which they wished him many happy Returns of it . </P> <P> An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit", as in "investment returns". Therefore, "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness . This use has been traced back to Joseph Addison in 1716 . </P>

Happy bday many many happy returns of the day