William Cowper

Cowper, a well-known poet, was asked by supporters of the abolition campaign to write some verses that could be used to capture the attention of the British public. In response, Cowper produced The Negro's Complaint. It was a great success and, when set to music, became an effective political song, sung as a ballad on the nation's streets.

Cowper achieved popular success with the publication, in 1785, of a volume of poetry including The Diverting History of John Gilpin, a humorous ballad that became the most popular poem of the decade, and The Task, which condemned slavery. Cowper suffered from severe depression throughout his life, and an early personal and professional crisis led to his conversion to evangelical Christianity, influencing much of his work. Cowper wrote several hymns that became favourites, including 'God moves in a mysterious way'.

Cowper sat for this portrait at the house of the poet William Hayley, who was a friend of the artist Romney. Hayley wrote a posthumous biography of Cowper.

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