Poems by Ebenezer Elliot (1781 - 1849)
Ebenezer Elliot was born near Rotherham, Yorkshire. After experiencing financial ruin, he eventually became a successful industrialist, working as an iron merchant and manufacturer of steel. He regarded himself as the "Poet of the Poor" and became known as the "Corn Law Rhymer" for his support and campaigning for reform of the Corn Laws amongst other things. He is perhaps most famous for his "Anthem of the People", which is used at the opening of the musical Godspell: "When wilt thou save the people? Oh, God of mercy! when?"