GARAY, JANOS (1812-1853), Hungarian poet and author, was born on Oct. l o, 1812, at Szegszard. In 1834 he brought out at Pest an heroic poem, in hexameters, under the title Csatar. After this he issued in quick succession various historical dramas, among which the most successful were Arbocz, Orszazgh Ilona and Batliori Erzsebet—the first two published at Pest in 1837 and the last in 1840. Garay removed in 1838 to Pressburg, where he edited the political journal Hirnok (Herald). He returned to Pest in 1839, and in 1842 was admitted into the Kisfaludy Society, of which he became second secretary. He published a collection of his poems (1843) ; Tollrajzok (Sketches with the Pen, Arpddok (1847), a collection of ballads; Balatoni Kagylok (Shells from the Balaton Lake) (1848), lyrics; Frangepan Kristofne (Christopher Frangepan's Wife) (1846), a poetical romance; and, his last and most famous work, an historical poem in 12 cantos, with the title Szent Laszlo (Saint Ladislaus) (Eger, 1852). Garay was professor of Hungarian language and literature to the Uni versity of Pest in 1848-49. After about four years' illness he died on Nov. 5, 1853, in great want.
A collective edition of his poems was published at Pest the year after his death by F. Ney (2nd ed. 1860), and several of his poems were translated by Kertbeny. See Garay Janos Osszes koltemenyei (2nd ed., Pest, 1860) ; and Dichtungen von Johann Garay (2nd ed., Vienna, 1856).