Edward Moore (1712–1757) was an English dramatist, poet, and periodical editor whose literary career flourished during the mid-18th century. Born in Abingdon, Berkshire, as the son of a dissenting minister, Moore initially pursued miscellaneous writing before finding success in the theater. His early publications included Fables for the Female Sex (1744) and the satirical poem The Trial of Selim the Persian (1748), alongside early dramatic efforts such as The Foundling (1748) and Gil Blas (1751).
Moore's enduring literary reputation rests primarily on his domestic tragedy, The Gamester (1753). Originally produced with the celebrated actor David Garrick in the lead role of Beverley, a tragic gambler, the play achieved widespread acclaim. It remained a staple of theatrical repertoires in both England and the United States for a century after Moore's death. The play is also remembered for coining the famous phrase "rich beyond the dreams of avarice," spoken by the character Mrs. Beverley.
Beyond his work for the stage, Moore was an accomplished poet who wrote clever imitations of John Gay and Thomas Gray. He also edited The World (1753–1757), a weekly periodical modeled after Samuel Johnson's Rambler. In this venture, he received editorial assistance from prominent contemporary figures, including Lord Lyttelton, Lord Chesterfield, and Horace Walpole. Moore collected his diverse writings in Poems, Fables and Plays in 1756, shortly before his death in Lambeth in 1757.
