John Ogleby or Ogilby, born near Edinburgh in 1600, had a strange experience. He began life as a dancing-master; when of mature age educated himself into the possession of much ill-assorted information: and with the confidence which such self-education not rarely gives, essayed the translation of Virgil and Homer. He survived till 1676, and spent a busy life as translator, writer of epics, printer, and map-compiler. His industry and honesty deserve some respect: but his name became, in literature, a byword for laborious incapacity.