foundry masthead







  EBENEZER ELLIOTT
(1781 - 1849)


Friends & Contacts of the Corn Law Rhymer



        Below are listed the main friends & acquaintances of Ebenezer Elliott. Included are details & dates where they are available. Many of the people listed are Sheffield folk, but a number are contacts Elliott made through attending meetings & making speeches. It is very unlikely to include all the characters who flitted across the life of the Corn Law Rhymer, but it is hoped that the list will be of some use to students of The Poet of the Poor.

       



Thomas Badger (1793 - 1862)

Badger was Elliott's solicitor and dealt with his business affairs. He did well since he also repreesented the prominent Rotherham firm of Walkers, cannon makers and foundry owners. Badger was born in Tinsley which in those days was a village near Sheffield. His early career as a solicitor was with Wheatley & Badger where he became a partner. When the firm closed, he set up by himself  at 29 High St in Rotherham. Wheatley & Badger were used by Elliott for suing defaulting debtors and they also represented him at his bankruptcy proceedings in 1816. In 1819 Badger married a Sheffield girl called Mary Smith and all their five children were born in the family home in Tinsley. In 1839, Badger became chairman of the Yorkshire Law Associaion and the great man was also a coroner for 33 years. He was a leading light in the Rotherham Gas Light & Coke Company and was also a promoter of the rail line between Rotherham & Sheffield. When Elliott purchased a home at Great Houghton, Badger did the legal work and charged the Corn Law Rhymer almost eighteen pounds for his time. Interestingly, Elliott bought the house at an auction house belonging to Badger's brother Benjamin. Thomas was buried in Moorgate Cemetery, Rotherham.




Samuel Bailey (1791 - 1870)

A Sheffield man who was noted as philosopher, author, Unitarian (like Elliott) & as a radical. Wrote essays on various subjects including on Shakespeare's dramas & on public libraries. Also had a go at poetry with a volume called "Maro; or Public Irritability" published in 1845. As a businessman, Bailey made lots of money setting up trade links with the United States & left generous amounts to the town of Sheffield. He was a town trustee, president of the Sheffield Literary & Philosophical Society & chairman of the Sheffield Banking Company which he helped to found. Stood unsuccessfully in the 1832 election when Parker & Buckingham were elected as MPs for Sheffield. Bailey gained 812 votes. Elliott dedicated his poem "Withered Wild Flowers" to Bailey, inscribing "To the Author of 'Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinions' - the Bentham of Hallamshire - as a tribute of respect, unworthy, but most sincere, I dedicate this humble poem." This volume of Bailey's essays appeared in 1821.


Jacob Brettell (1793 - 1862)  See the Ebenezer Research Foundry Article about Brettell



Rev Francis Fisher (1794-1846)


This young man was born at Laughton En Le Morthen near Rotherham. He was the son of William Fisher (1780-1861), a well-known Sheffield businessman and staunch Unitarian. Francis was a lay preacher & was a great favourite of Elliott & his wife; indeed, the latter thought of him as a son. He often dined with them at their house or rambled with them around Rivelyn or Walkley Bank discussing sermons, verse & politics. Fisher was a huge admirer of Elliott's poetry and was one of a group who called themselves the Elliott Club. In 1841, he was listed as a committee member of the Sheffield Mechanics' Institute (the Corn Law Rhymer, too, was an officer of the institute). Fisher was a serious young man, an Unitarian fond of studying sermons, who died young. Francis preached at Stannington near Sheffield & after he left Sheffield, Rev Fisher spent 3 years preaching in Dorchester, probably 1842-5.  Tracking him through his correspondence with Elliott, Fisher next appears in 1845 in Edinburgh (where he did not do well) and in 1846 he was in Lincoln. In 1844 Elliott posted to him a draft of his will & asked for his young friend's opinion; if the will would not do, would his friend mind writing a better version? Which shows how close the two were.

 In 1843 Elliott wrote a long poem to Fisher in the form of a letter. The poem is called "The Corn-Law Rhymer in the Country" and the text of it appears on this site in the New Poems 2 section for previously undiscovered poems by the bard. Click here to read the poem.


Eliza Flower (1803 - 1846)  See the Ebenezer Research Foundry Article called Radical Friends


John Fowler (1783 - 1872)

Born at Wincobank in Sheffield, Fowler was secretary to the Sheffield Mechanics' Institute & was in close contact with Elliott who was also an officer of the institute. Fowler often dined at Elliott's Upperthorpe home & went walking with the bard who once referred to him as "our son by better ties than blood." Fowler was among those who light-heartedly referred to each other as The Elliott Club. Elliott's  long poem "The Gypsy" was written for Fowler. The poem, which is a ballad set round Stannington, then a village near Sheffield, begins:

"John Fowler, I owe you a tale or a song,
I've remain'd, I confess it, your debtor too long;"

Fowler was decribed as a trustworthy & aimable man, six foot tall with a strong build.  He was described by Elliott as "an enthusiast in theatricals and a good dramatic critic." By trade, he was an estate valuer and land surveyor who resided at Wadsley Hall, about a mile & a half from Elliott's villa. He was noted for his interest in cattle, horses & farming. On Dec 24th 1815 Fowler married Elizabeth Swann; one of their children was to become the celebrated civil engineer, Sir John Fowler, who built the Forth Rail Bridge, a wonder of its age. In 1843, Fowler was the editor of a book about Charles Pemberton (see below), another great friend of Elliott. The book was called "The Life and Literary Remains of C. R. Pemberton."

 


William Johnson Fox (1786 - 1864)  See the Ebenezer Research Foundry Article called Radical Friends


George Calvert Holland (1801 - 1865)

 An eminent doctor who worked at Sheffield's Royal Infirmary. Born at Pitsmoor, Sheffield, Holland was the son of a barber. Lack of schooling led to an immense thirst for learning with an early interest in writing poetry. Like Elliott, Holland was an Unitarian.  He became a director of several railway companies but was ruined financially by them. Had to sell his Wadsley Hall residence & moved to Worksop in Nottinghamshire. In 1843, he wrote "Vital Statistics of Sheffield" & he also wrote "Enquiry into the Principles and Practice of Medicine." He was president of the Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society where he was respected as a scholar & poet. Elliott wrote a poem called "To G.C. Holland, M.D." and another called "Epistle to G.C. Holland, Esq., M.D."  Elliott's poem "Love" was dedicated to Holland: " ... who, by his efforts in favour of Universal Education, is preparing better days for the England of my children, and a brighter future for the human race, I inscribe this Poem." Holland also practised hypnotism. Elliott's wife who often watched Holland experimenting was impressed, but the Corn Law Rhymer was not (see G.S. Phillips - below - for more on Elliott & hyponotism).

John Holland (1794 - 1872)

 A friend of Elliott, Holland was a Methodist who wrote poetry from an early age.  He was initially an optician, but soon became a successful journalist who was editor of the Sheffield Iris newspaper & later of the Sheffield Mercury paper. He is well known for his "History of Worksop" (1826), but he also wrote biographies of James Montgomery (see below), who was a close friend, and Chantrey, the famous Sheffield sculptor. His writing covered other subjects including theology, science & antiquities. He was for many years librarian of the Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society and he was also a president of the Mechanics' Institute - where he sometimes gave lectures. Today, his poems are regarded as tediously long & uninteresting!

William Howitt (1792 - 1879)

 A Quaker who was a prolific writer & journalist who worked on the People's Journal before setting up his own paper called Howitt's Journal. He visited Elliott at Hargate Hill in 1846 in order to include the poet in "Homes and Haunts of the Most Eminent British Poets" which Howitt was to publish later in 1847. In January of 1847, Howitt visited Elliott again, this time taking with him Margaret Gillies (1803-87), an eminent artist, who made a portrait of the Corn Law Rhymer which was included in Howitt's Journal April 3rd 1847. For more information on Howitt , please click here.

Two descriptions of Elliott taken from Howitt's Journal show the high style of the reporter:-

"In conversation he is rapid and short; his sentences, when he is animated by the subject on which he is speaking, have all the force and brevity of Spartan oratory; they are words of flame."

"In argument every muscle of his countenance is eloquent; and when his cold blue eye is fired with indignation, it resembles a wintry sky flashing with lightning, his dark bushy brows writhing above it like the thunder-cloud torn by the tempest."

Isaac Ironside (1808 - 1870)


Sheffield's leading socialist was a long time friend of the Corn Law Rhymer. He was an accountant & was business agent for the Rhymer. Ironside was very much against communism and once threatened to burn the Bible which he regarded as "communistic." Of Elliott, he observed: "As a man, he wept for the miseries of the poor, and would have done anything for them; as a political economist, he left them to its mercy." Another point he made was: "He was not truthful where his prejudices or free trade were concerned." Relations between Elliott & Ironside were sometimes strained over political differences, but in 1848 Elliott wrote in a letter to Ironside:-

"I shall never be able to repay your kindness. You have behaved like a father to me, and whenever I speak of you in future, my speech shall be in this wise, 'Our Father Ironsides!'"

For more information on Isaac Ironside and his family, see this article.


Walter Savage Landor (1775 - 1864)


Landor was a poet who was a big friend of Southey (see below) and Coleridge. Landor is thought to have visited Sheffield in 1837 in order to give a lecture to the Mechanics' Institute - it was on this occasion that Landor made the acquaintance of the Corn Law Rhymer. Also in 1837, Landor visited  mount Ben Ledi in Scotland  and produced the following poem which was published in the Sheffield Iris newspaper:-

To Ebenezer Elliott.

(from the summit of benledi.)


elliott! I want thee at my side, today!

Here are the scenes in which thy spirit prides;

Yon up-heaved sea of hills, with rocks all grey,

And stream-worn furrows down their rugged sides.

An empire, wide and limitless is thine:

Wild ancient hills, where truth upholds her seat,

In grandeur  stern and their lochs, in contrast fine,

Spread many-shaded mirrors at our feet!

Here thou, a truth-bold, yet child-hearted man,

Canst mount a throne to royal names denied,

Greater than he who leads his marshall'd van

O'er men and mountains, prostrate to his pride.

Thy soul takes wing 'mid desolation free,

And paints clear pictured scenes of what our earth might be.

 

After the death of Elliott, a statue was erected which Landor celebrated in a longish poem called :-


"ON THE STATUE OF EBENEZER ELLIOTT BY NEVILLE BURNARD, ORDERED BY THE WORKING MEN OF SHEFFIELD."


Thomas Lister (1810 - 1888)


Elliott described his close friend as "in many respects remarkable - a courageous, energetic, able-bodied man, with a bump of 'I'll have my way,' bigger than a hen's egg, on his summit ridge." The two were introduced by Charles Pemberton (see below) at a wedding. Born at Old Mill Wharf near Barnsley, Lister was the youngest of 14 children; his father was a Quaker and small farmer. Young Thomas worked for his father after leaving the Quaker School at Ackworth. For helping Lord Morpeth in an election campaign, Lister was offered the position of Postmaster at Barnsley in 1832, but as a Quaker he could not take the necessary oath. In 1839 he accepted the position after oath-taking was dropped. He remained Postmaster until 1870 when he retired.  Lister was a pillar of Barnsley society who was well known for his international travels. He was also  keen on bird watching.  Lister was a versifier, too, and had his poems published (with a little assistance from the Corn Law Rhymer) who praised him as the "Bard of the Future." Lister's volume of poetry called "The Rustic Wreath" sold well over 3,000 copies.  Elliott wrote two poems about his friend - both were called "To Thomas Lister." A favourite pastime for the two men was exploring the countryside of South Yorkshire while  discussing poetry & the Corn Laws. In fact when Elliott first visited the house he was to buy near Great Houghton as a retirement home, Lister was with him & showed him the way to this remote place.


FOR AN ARTICLE ON LISTER WITH A PICTURE OF HIM AND POEMS BY HIM, AND POEMS ABOUT HIM BY ELLIOTT, PLEASE CLICK HERE



Robert Pemberton Milnes (1784 - 1858)

The family seat of the MP for Pontefract was at Fryston Hall about 12 miles from Elliott's home near Great Houghton. The family also held Houghton Hall and the Manor of Great Houghton. In a letter of 1841, Milnes invited Elliott to stay at Fryston Hall in order to meet the famous Thomas Carlyle. Milnes added that although he had voted for the Corn Laws, Elliott would have the opportunity to make him change his mind. Elliott's eager acceptance confessed apprehension at the thought of meeting the great Carlyle & mentioned that his Great Houghton home was on land once owned by the Milnes family.

 

Richard Monckton Milnes (1809 - 1885)


Like his father above, Milnes was also MP for Pontefract. A very sociable man - who became Lord Houghton in 1863 - he was friendly with Disraeli, Tennyson, Thackeray & other prominent people. His "Life & Letters of John Keats" was much admired by Elliott but as a poet the Corn Law Rhymer judged Milnes too rich to do justice to his talents. An 1848 letter from Elliott to Milnes at Bawtry Hall reveals that Milnes sent Elliott some sort of invitation which Elliott had to decline for health reasons.

 

James Montgomery (1771 - 1854)

The Sheffield hymn writer & poet who was friends with Wordsworth, Southey (see below), Coleridge & Walter Scott. His most famous hymn was "Angels from the Realms of Glory" while the 1806 volume "The Wanderer of Switzerland" made his name as a poet. While Byron greatly admired the latter work, Montgomery is not rated highly these days as a poet. He started work in Sheffield during 1792 on the Sheffield Register newspaper; the name was later changed to the Sheffield Iris & was owned by Mongomery for over 30 years. Montgomery grew very rich & was a pillar of Sheffield. At his funeral, shops & factories closed & the funeral procession took over one hour to pass.

Elliott & Montgomery were acquaintances rather than close friends, even though both were officers of the Sheffield Mechanics' Institute. The gulf between them was probably owing to Montgmery's wealth & social standing. Elliott did submit poems to Montgomery for his comments & dedicated "Spirits and Men" to him. Despite their different places in society, a letter of 1832 from Elliott to Montgomery does nevertheless have a very relaxed tone.

After Southey died, Wordsworth wrote to Montgomery to see if Elliott had any letters from Southey for publication in a memorial volume:-

"I am very sorry that you have been at all anxious about the result of your application to Mr Elliot. Immediately he wrote to me, and told me that Letters in his possession should be forwarded, as requested, to Mr Taylor. He was quite earnest in this determination, and strongly expressed his regret that in compliance with the persecuting solicitations of certain American autograph-hunters, he had parted with several letters which he had received from Mr Southey."

Later in the same letter (2nd June 1843), Wordsworth continued:-

  "I have just turned to Mr Elliot's letter and will transcribe part of his words - 'I have still thirteen letters of Mr S. which (with others if I can recover them) I will forward as requested in about a week.' So that my dear Sir we may both be easy upon the subject; I must however repeat my regret, that it has occasioned you so much trouble."



Feargus O'Connor (1794 - 1855)

  A turbulent & ambitious Irishman who was MP for County Cork (1833). On moving to England, his oratory made him very influential in the Chartist movement where his speeches often featured " a certain coarse facetiousness which tickled the ears of the vulgar." Where humour failed, Feargus sometimes used his fists to make a point - and having a big build certainly helped him! Was elected MP for Nottingham. In 1837 he set up the Northern Star newspaper which was the mouthpiece of the Chartists. As leader of the movement, Feargus was "the declared advocate of physical force" which set him off in a direction which alienated the Corn Law Rhymer. They were both platform speakers at the great Chartist meeting at Westminster in 1838; afterwards Elliott commented "that fellow Feargus O'Connor will ruin that cause. The threat of Physical force will never do: we want the power of public opinion. In the long run, it must prevail." In 1839, Elliott left the movement for this reason. The bard's future son-in-law (John Watkins) supported Feargus for a time which often prompted Elliott to make derogatory comments about Feargus in letters he wrote to Watkins. Feargus deteriorated mentally over the years & was committed to an asylum where he died aged 61.


Richard Otley  See the Ebenezer Research Foundry Article called A letter from Elliott to Otley

 


Charles Reece Pemberton (1790 - 1840)


Elliott met Pemberton through Francis Place & the two men became close friends, often going walking together. Pemberton introduced the Corn Law Rhymer to Thomas Lister who was also to become a close friend. Lister referred to Pemberton as "the graceful elecutionist, the fiery-souled patriot." Born in Wales, Pemberton ran away to Liverpool where he was taken by the Press Gang. He was a seaman for seven years before becoming an actor & theatre manager in the West Indies. Like Elliott, Pemberton was an Unitarian. And Unitarians always acquainted themselves with fellow Unitarians.

Back home, Pemberton became a distinguished Shakespearean actor. He also took up lecturing & gave talks on his travels and lectures on drama & Shakespeare at  Mechanics' Institutes including the  one in Sheffield where Elliott was Vice-President. Pemberton lectured in Sheffield in 1834, 1835 (twice) and 1838. He was a very popular figure when he was in Sheffield and was wined and dined by a group of men which included Elliott, John Fowler and T. A. Ward. It is clear from Elliott's poems that he took Pemberton walking while he was visiting Sheffield. When Pemberton was taken seriously ill, Elliott referred to him as "poor Charles Pemberton, the Miles Gordon of social improvement." (Miles Gordon was the central character of the Corn Law Rhymer's poem "The Ranter"). Elliott went on to write a poem about his friend's death called "Poor Charles." [The poem was set to music by another Unitarian, the gifted Eliza Flower]. Pemberton also gets a mention in Elliott's poem "The Chained Eagle," while in "Roch Abbey" Pemberton is acclaimed as :-

"To truth a martyr, hated and belied;
Of freedom's cause a champion true and tried."

Another friend of Elliott, namely John Fowler (see above), edited "The Life and Literary Remains of C. R. Pemberton" in 1843.


George Searle Phillips (1815 - 1889)

 Searle was an author friend of Elliott (and of Thomas Lister - see above) who was editor of the Leeds Times & later principal of the Huddersfield People's College. He was well-known as a lecturer in the Yorkshire Mechanics' Institute circle. Hypnotism was another trade for Phillips who recounted an argument with Elliott. The Rhymer was completely dismissive of hypnotism until Phillips offered to hypnotise him. Elliott blustered that it would be a complete waste of time but fell under the influence straightaway. When brought round, the nonplussed bard muttered he had just nodded off as he was very tired. Around 1860, Searle emigrated to the USA where he did well, but eventually died in a New Jersey mental institute. As an author, he used the pseudonym January Searle and his works included two studies of Elliott, namely "The Life, Character and Genius of Ebenezer Elliott, Corn Law Rhymer" (1850) and "Memoirs of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer" (1852).

Francis Place  (1771 - 1854)

A London man, Place made himself unemployable after taking a lead role in a strike in 1793. As a result of his poor prospects, he built up a collection of radical books which became a centre for like-minded people. In 1836 he was involved with setting up the London Anti-Corn Law Association; Elliott was also on the committee which is where he met Place. The latter introduced Elliott to Colonel Thomas Perronet Thompson (see below) who was a committee member as well. Place was in addition responsible for drawing Elliott's attention to Charles Reece Pemberton (see above). Place was busy in 1836 since he had a hand in setting up the London Working Mens' Association. He was an influential member of the Chartist movement & participated in drafting the People's Charter, though like Elliott he left the movement when it proposed the use of violence. Place's work against the Combination Acts was important, as was his role in prompting the repeal of the Corn Laws. He supported the need for education & as we have seen was for a time a keen Chartist. Elliott dedicated his "Win Hill" poem to Place. A few letters of 1834 between the two men have survived, while the British Library holds Place's huge collection of pamphlets & ephemera such as the Anti-Corn Law Journal and the Anti-Bread Tax Circular.

Joseph Rowbotham or Joseph Rowbottom*

*Note Elliott used both spellings of the surname.

A teacher at Hollis School in Rotherham where Elliott was one of around 150 scholars. He taught me "to write - and little more," said Elliott in his autobiographical fragment. In his notes on the poem "Wild Withered Flowers," Elliott wrote of Rowbotham: "He was disinterestedness personified, a man of genius, of infantine kindliness, of patriarchal simplicity - the gentlest and most benevolent of living creatures."  He was a good mathematician and clever with his hands making "various nicknacks; and among others, the Aeolian harp." Elliott attended Ramsbotham's funeral where Jacob Brettell made the funeral oration.



Paul Rodgers (1788 - 1851)

 Another friend of Elliott who was part of the Elliott Club. Rodgers stemmed from Greasborough, now a suburb of Rotherham, but in those days a small village. He was a shoemaker in the village & a Methodist lay preacher. He was a kind, good-natured man of some intelligence who made a name for himself by writing poetry. In 1833 at the suggestion of G.C. Holland (see above), he moved to Sheffield, where he continued his interest in writing verse. After resigning from his post as secretary of the Sheffield Mechanics' Institute (a committee headed by Elliott cut his wages), Rodgers began a long career with the Sheffield New Gas Company & later the United Gas Company. Buried in Greasborough churchyard. Published a volume of poems called "Memoirs of Matthias D'Amour." Rodgers wrote a 25 page article called "Recollections of Ebenezer Elliott, his Family, and Friends" in "Memoirs of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer, with Criticisms upon his Writings" by January Searle 1852.

January Searle see George Searle Phillips


Samuel Smiles (1812 - 1904)

  A Scot who was editor of the Leeds Times for 20 years before becoming involved in railway management. In 1859, he published his classic "Self-Help" which ran to many editions & was translated into many languages. Smiles gave papers on many subjects such as reform, education, public libraries & repeal of the Corn Laws. He attended the great Chartist meeting at Westminster in 1838 where Elliott harangued the crowd. Very soon afterwards, Smiles visited his Sheffield friend James Montgomery (see above) who took him to meet the Corn Law Rhymer in his workshop. Smiles later visited Elliott again - four weeks before the bard died in 1849. Smiles writings detail both meetings between the two men & include a letter from Elliott dated November 3rd 1849; one of the last letters the bard ever wrote.

For more information on Smiles, please click here

Robert Southey (1774 - 1843)

 Elliott freely acknowledged that Southey had taught him the art of writing poetry. Southey was a professional writer & scholar who became Poet Laureate in 1813. A friend of Wordsworth, Southey was an important figure in Elliott's development as a poet. In 1808, Elliott wrote to Southey for advice on writing poetry & the resulting correspondence continued until 1824. In 1823, Southey visited Sheffield & met with both Elliott and James Mongomery (see above). Southey disliked Elliott's politics but admired his poetry. After receiving a copy of Elliott's "Corn Law Rhymes" via William Wordsworth, Southey went on to write a long article on the "Corn Law Rhymes" - the article is on this site (please click here to view).


Colonel Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783 - 1869)


Elliott's work is sprinkled with references to Perronet, the author of the "Corn Law Catechism." This work of 1827 made an enormous impression on Elliott & was the source for Elliott's own "Corn Law Rhymes." He became a great admirer of Perronet & even wrote a few lines of poetry praising him. Elliott also dedicated his poem, "The Splendid Village," to Perronet in 1833.

The son of a Hull MP, Perronet had spells in the navy & in the army (achieving the rank of major-general) before briefly being governor of Sierra Leone. After this, his attention turned to radical politics & "the Prince of Politicians" became friendly with Jeremy Bentham & his circle. Perronet supported free trade, repeal of the Corn Laws, catholic emancipation, reform of parliament & reform of currency. He was MP for Hull 1835-7 & MP for Bradford from 1847. Both Perronet & Elliott were platform speakers at the great Chartist meeting held in 1838 in Westminster Palace yard. The following year, there was some correspondence between the two men, and Elliott revealed there had been discussions in Sheffield about Perronet standing to become MP for Sheffield. In the 1840s Perronet wrote many pamphlets for the Anti-Corn Law League attacking the Corn Laws & was very successful.




Thomas Asline Ward (1781 - 1871)

Ward was a very eminent figure in Sheffield and although he was born in the same year as Elliott & although both were Unitarians, they were acquaintances rather than close friends. Perhaps, this was due to their different positions in Sheffield society. Ward was Master Cutler, magistrate, newspaper owner, bank director and so on. Very much the lion of the city's business & culural life - founder member of the Literary & Philosophical Society for instance, president of the Mechanics' Institute & of the Sheffield Political Union, a member of the Town Trustees & secretary of the Sheffield Book Club. Ward's diaries - 72 volumes - are kept in Sheffield Library Archives.
Ward was a charming & genial man described as "the Champion of freedom" who stood unsuccessfully in the 1832 election in Sheffield after being nominated by Elliott & Edward Bramley. Ward in fact played a part in Elliott becoming famous passing a copy of the "Corn Law Rhymes" to a London friend, John Bowring, who in turn showed it to Wordsworth & Edward Bulwer Lytton. In Elliott's poem "They Met Again" we note a dedication "To the man of Sheffield of our hearts - Thomas Asline Ward, Esq." Some correspondence between Ward & Elliott has survived.


John Watkins (1809 - 1850)

       NB One academic has Watkins dying in 1858 but on his Darfield (Yorkshire) grave, he died on September 22nd 1850. He suffered persistent poor health which explains why he had so much time for scribbling and why he died in his early forties.

        Watkins was born in 1809 of wealthy parents at Aislaby Hall, Whitby, North Yorkshire. Almost fifty years later, he was to marry one of Elliott's daughters & to write a biography of Elliott which included much correspondence between the two men. This article is drawn from the correspondence.

        Watkins was both poet & playwright, but one of his earliest known works was biography; namely "The Remains of James Myers of Whitby" (1830). Myers was a very close friend of Watkins.

        The Chartist movement was something with which Watkins was also heavily engaged.

        Elliott's first meeting with Watkins was in Dec 1838 when the latter rode the hundred miles from Whitby to the Corn Law Rhymer's workshop in Sheffield to take advice on establishing a branch of the Chartists in Whitby. He brought with him his drama "Watt Tyler" to show to Elliott who was impressed enough to produce a poem called "Prologue to Watt Tyler."

        The following year Watkins wrote a volume of sermons called "Lay Sermons," which he dedicated to Elliott. Both Elliott & his young religious friend, Francis Fisher, thought highly of the sermons. The same year (1839) Watkins was arrested for his public reading of his Chartist publication (price 1d) called "The Five Cardinal Points of the People's Charter, Separately Explained and Advocated." He was released in 1840 by order of Lord Normanby, Secretary of State.

        We know that Watkins had plenty of time for writing & for his political activities since he was wealthy enough not to need to work. He told Elliott that he had 80 pounds a year from his father who he described as a Rothschild worth 40,000 pounds a year - a considerable amount.

        Another play by Watkins appeared in 1839 or 1840 & was called "Yorkshire Tragedy." The subject was the Poor Law. The Corn Law Rhymer declared that it was "an impressive commentary on the time." Also in 1840, Watkins produced a drama called "Robin Hood."

        In 1841 Watkins wrote a play in blank verse called "Jack Frost." This 5 act play has survived and its subject was the Chartist rising in Newport (Wales) in 1839 where 4000 marchers demanded the Charter. The authorities made arrests which led to violent fighting and the deaths of over 20 people when the military opened fire. Jack Frost, the leader of the uprising, was sentenced to be hanged, drawn & quartered. In the end he was banished to Australia. The play started off supporting the uprising, but ends against the use of physical force. Watkins perhaps being influenced by the Corn Law Rhymer.

        Around this time Watkins tried to interest Elliott in a retirement property in Whitby but the poet was indecisive. Soon (1841 or 1842) Watkins moved to live in London. He is recorded living at Grove Court, Clapham Rise and is also listed at Battersea Rise.  In London, he played a prominent role with the Chartists, initially being a fan of Feargus O'Connor, since in 1843 Elliott referred to Watkins as a "Feargusite." It appears that this phase was short lived, since Watkins started to oppose O'Connor, a change of which Elliott approved.

        1843 saw Watkins involved in a new Chartist magazine. While Mrs Elliott enjoyed the first issue, the bard disapproved of the content & urged Watkins to withdraw from the magazine being worried that Watkins might lose money on the venture.

        Elliott also gave Watkins advice on matrimony. It is amusing to see that Elliott often told the younger man never to marry. If he felt compelled to marry, he should go for a matronly figure or a wealthy woman. By Sept 1849, Elliott had changed his mind on this score & told Watkins that he ought to get wed. Clearly the Rhymer had a shock the following month, when Watkins asked for the hand of his eldest daughter. The poet was delighted & announced that henceforth he would call his future son-in-law by his Christian name. The wedding was fixed for Christmas, but a failing Elliott wrote secretly to Watkins urging him to come up from London as he did not think he would last to Christmas. Watkins married Fanny Ann Elliott on Nov 17th 1849. Her father was too weak to attend the ceremony & died a few weeks later. Watkins was at Elliott's bedside when the Corn Law Rhymer died as Watkins'  poignant verse shows:-


  On The Death of Ebenezer Elliott

"Good night! Good night!" thy last farewell By man's dread foe, thou smil'dst to see 
Still loves upon mine ear to dwell,  His dart was Immortality. 
Like lingering sound of passing bell.   
  When cold thy hand lay clasped in mine, 
Elliott, my friend! nor mine alone,  No more in friendship's grasp to join, 
The people mourn their father gone -  And in thine uncommuning eye 
The patriot-bard, whose words of fire  Death seemed in dreamy sleep to lie - 
Kindle the despot's funeral pyre,  And short thy breath stood fluttering 
And bade his laws in flames expire.  Upon thy lips with ready wing - 
  I could not see thee thus, at last, 
I saw thee in thy parting hour,  And weep not o'er thy goodness past. 
When Pain had given thee to the power  
Of Death - but, in thy weakness strong,  With filial love I closed thine eyes, 
Thou didst resist the treacherous wrong.  And bad God speed thee to the skies! 
And, as in life thou ne'er wast bowed  Oh, who could doubt he fled above 
By tyrant men - so now uncowed  Whose last look on the earth was love! 



        Back in 1845 Watkins wrote a satire about the Chartists which sniped at Feargus O'Connor among others. The following year there was a drama called "Griselda" which was praised by Mrs Elliott but slammed by the Corn Law Rhymer and in 1847 Watkins wrote another play referred to both as "Cromwell" and "Oliver Cromwell."

        Watkins died (aged only 41) in Sheffield on Sept 22nd 1850 & is buried at All Saints Church, Darfield in South Yorks. On his grave, he is described as "late of London" - his address there was Clapham Rise even as late as July 1st 1850. Also buried in the grave are his wife, Fanny Ann Watkins (born Elliott), who died aged 78 on Jan 14th 1899, and the couple's daughter, Clarens Fanny Watkins who died aged 31 or 32 in 1882, the wife of Lewis Murray of Ecclesall, Sheffield.



Some quotations from Watkins

        "Elliott was not a man of wit, his forte was not humour. He was too grave to be gay, too serious to be lively."

        "Elliott was the true friend of the poor; he loved them because they were poor; and he hated those who did not love them because they were poor."

        Elliott was "The Apostle of Corn-law Repeal."

        "Elliott wrought the greatest public benefit that ever happened to the people of England - he untaxed their bread."

        ".... sometimes a smile like a wintry sun-beam lit up the habitual sadness of his countenance."

        "It was his constant habit to disparage himself and to speak in a tone of hyperbole of the merits of others."

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The titles listed in this article are not at all inclusive since Watkins was a prolific scribbler; in fact, those mentioned are ones which (mainly) do not appear in a comprehensive article on Watkins by Dr Malcolm Chase, an academic at Leeds University. As very few of Watkins' books have survived, it is quite possible that some were manuscript only & never reached publication. For copies of "Life, Poetry and Letters of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer" by John Watkins, it is worth searching on  www.abebooks.co.uk.  The site also offers second hand copies of Elliott's poems.

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