Thomas Percy, an English scholar, born at Bridgenorth, Shropshire, April 13, 1728, died at Dromore, Ireland, Sept. 30, 1811. He took orders, and received in 1756 the rectory of Wilby and vicarage of Easton-Mauduit, Northamptonshire. His first literary production was the translation from the Portuguese of vol. iv. of a Chinese novel entitled " Hau Kiou Cho-an" (4 vols., 1761), the first three volumes having been translated previously. This was soon followed by "Miscellaneous Pieces relating to the Chinese" (2 vols., 1702); a translation from the Icelandic into Latin and English of five pieces of runic poetry (1761-3); a new version of Solomon's Song, with notes and a commentary (1764); and a " Key to the New Testament" (1769). The " Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," to which he owes all his present celebrity, appeared in 1765. The greater part of the collection was taken from an old manuscript in the editor's possession, and many other pieces were obtained from the Pepysian library. It has been many times republished, a new edition appearing in New York in 1867. In 1766 Percy was appointed domestic chaplain to the duke and duchess of Northumberland, in 1769 chaplain in ordinary to the king, in 1778 dean of Carlisle, and in 1782 bishop of Dromore in the county Down, where he passed the rest of his life.

In his latter days he became totally blind. Dr. Percy was a poet-of considerable merit. His "Nancy, wilt thou come with me?" and "The Hermit of Wark-worth" (1771), a poem connected with the history of the noble family of Percy to which he was reputed to belong, are well known; and the beautiful ballad of " The Friar of Orders Gray," which appears in the "Reliques," is mostly his own composition. He also published in 1770 the "Northumberland Household Book," and a translation of Mallet's " Northern Antiquities".