1751 in literature

The year 1751 in literature involved some significant events and new books.

Events

• Robert Clive conquers Arcot for the English Raj.
• Death of Frederick Lewis, "Prince Frederick," the Prince of Wales and heir apparent.
• Denis Diderot's Encyclopedia first volume appears.
• In Vienna, court poet Metastasio writes the poem Il rè pastore, later used by Mozart to compose an opera seria.
• The cookbook titled The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy is written in 1751 and becomes the first formally published modern cookbook.

New books

• John Arbuthnot - Miscellaneous Works (posth.)
• John Gilbert Cooper - Cursory Remarks on Mr. Warburton's New Edition of Mr. Pope's Works
• Henry Fielding - An Enquiry into the Causes of the Late Increase of Robbers
• James Harris - Hermes
• Henry Home, Lord Kames - Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion
• David Hume - An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
• John Jortin - Remarks on Ecclesiastical History
• Alexander Pope - The Works of Alexander Pope (ed. William Warburton)
• Catharine Trotter Cockburn - The Works of Mrs. Catharine Cockburn
• John Wesley - Serious Thoughts upon the Perseverance of Saints
• Benjamin Whichcote - Works

Fiction

• John Cleland - Memoirs of a Coxcomb
• Francis Coventry - The History of Pompey the Little
• Henry Fielding - Amelia
• Eliza Haywood - The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless
• Tobias Smollett - The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Poetry

• Richard Owen Cambridge - The Scribleriad
• Thomas Cooke - An Ode on the Powers of Poetry
• Nathaniel Cotton - Visions in Verse
• Thomas Gray - Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
• Soame Jenyns - The Modern Fine Lady
• Mary Leapor - Poems

Newly printed drama

• David Mallet - Alfred (masque)
• Moses Mendes - Robin Hood
  • - The Seasons
• Edward Moore - Gil Blas

Births

• February 20 - Johann Heinrich Voß (died 1826)
• October 20 - Richard Brinsley Sheridan (died 1816)

Deaths

• October 26 - Philip Doddridge (born 1702)
• December 12 - Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke(born 1678)