James Montgomery
James Montgomery (1771-1854) was a Scottish-born poet and journalist known for his contributions to English literature and hymnody. Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, to Irish parents who were members of the Moravian Church, Montgomery's early education in a Moravian school ignited his passion for writing hymns. After his parents' death in the West Indies, he left the Moravian faith and began an apprenticeship as a shopkeeper, all while cultivating his poetic talents. His first published poem appeared in 1791, and by 1792, he had embarked on a career in journalism, eventually taking over the Sheffield Register and renaming it the Sheffield Iris.
Montgomery was a vocal advocate for reform, often facing imprisonment for his writings, which included critiques of the government and support for causes such as the abolition of the slave trade. His well-known works include the long poem "The Wanderer of Switzerland" and the religious epic "The World Before the Flood." Notably, he composed over four hundred hymns, with favorites like "Angels from the Realm of Glory." Despite his popularity during his lifetime and influence on other Romantic poets, Montgomery's work is less recognized today. Nevertheless, his poetry and hymns reflect the political, religious, and moral challenges of his era, capturing the spirit of his time.
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Subject Terms
James Montgomery
Author
- Born: November 4, 1771
- Birthplace: Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
- Died: April 30, 1854
Biography
James Montgomery was born on November 4, 1771, in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents, John and Mary Blackley Montgomery, were Irish and members of the Moravian church. After moving the family to Ireland, his parents sent young Montgomery to a Moravian school in Leeds, England when he was six years old. He began his lifelong practice of writing hymns while still at school. In 1783, the parents went to the West Indies as missionaries and died there.
Montgomery left the Moravians in 1787 and apprenticed himself to a shopkeeper. Over the next few years, he continued to write poetry while supporting himself by working in various shops. His first published poem, “The Chimera,” appeared in an Edinburgh newspaper in 1791.
In 1792, Montgomery began a long career as a journalist after answering an advertisement for a clerk in the Sheffield Register Soon after, the editor of the paper was imprisoned and the publisher escaped to America to avoid imprisonment because of the radical stance they took in the paper in their support of the French Revolution. In 1794, Montgomery took over the paper and renamed it the Sheffield Iris Although considerably more moderate than his former employers, Montgomery found himself on the wrong side of the government more than once and was imprisoned several times for printing what was considered seditious material. While in prison, Montgomery spent his time writing verse. Out of this experience came his book Prison Amusements (1797).
In 1806, Montgomery published his long poem, “The Wanderer of Switzerland” in a book of the same title. The book sold well. Robert Southey, among others, found the book charming, and initiated a correspondence with Montgomery. The purpose of most of Montgomery’s work was reform, not only in his poetry but also in the editorial pages of the Iris. In 1809, he published Poems on the Abolition of the Slave Trade. His next major work was a religious epic, The World Before the Flood, published in 1813. He returned to the Moravian faith soon after.
Montgomery was well known to the other Romantic poets of the day. There is evidence that his work influenced that of Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats; however his work, while popular in his own day, has been fully overshadowed by these better-known poets. Indeed, contemporary readers are likely to be much more familiar with some of Montgomery’s huge output of hymns than with his formal poetry. He wrote more than four hundred hymns; the best known of them include “Angels from the Realm of Glory,” and “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed.”
In 1825, Montgomery sold the Iris. A retirement dinner honored him, and many important figures of the day attended. By all accounts, Montgomery was well thought of, someone who did good works and worked hard. Montgomery died in 1854 at the age of eighty-two.
Although few study Montgomery’s poetry in the present day, his work stands as a testament to Romantic ideals. His total body of work offers interesting insight into the political, religious and moral struggles of his day.