Day Thomas

Day, Thomas (1748-1789), born in London, where his father was a collector of customs. He was educated at Charterhouse and Oxford, and inheriting a small fortune, he was called to the bar, and travelled on the Continent. He appears to have been impressed by the principles of Rousseau, and to have had a certain eccentric turn of mind thereby increased. He had two foundling girls educated, with the idea of marrying one of them, but the marriage did not take place, and he gave each a portion and married them to tradesmen. In 1778 he married a Miss Milnes. He was killed by a fall from a young horse, which he was trying to break in upon a system of his own. He is chiefly remembered as the author of Sandford and Merton, a book which has interested and amused many generations of boys.