Editing John Gay (section)

===Diplomatic service===
In 1714 Gay was appointed secretary to the [[Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon|Earl of Clarendon]] the new British ambassador to the [[Electorate of Hanover]] through the influence of Swift. However the death of [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] three months later put an end to his hopes of official employment.<ref name="EB"/> The mission had been an unsuccessful attempt by the Tories to ingratiate themselves with [[George I of Great Britain|Elector George]], heir to the throne, who was angry that the [[Peace of Utrecht]] had led to Britain's abandoning its allies in the [[War of the Spanish Succession|war against France]] and suspected that the Tory leadership favoured the [[Jacobitism|Jacobites]].

The [[Hanoverian succession]] led to the ousting of the [[Harley Ministry]] and establishment of the [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig oligarchy]] and Gay never held a government post again. While in [[Hanover]] he met [[Caroline of Ansbach]], the future [[Princess of Wales]], and [[Henrietta Howard]], who would become a close friend of his.<ref>Winton, p. 40.</ref>