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Copyright 1998 Karl & Shelagh Thompson
Vocational Training & Interest in Theodora Cowper Corrupting Influence of London Society & Move to the Country Links to Other Sites about William Cowper This brief biography on the life of William Cowper provides an insight into the Christian poet's life, work and experience. His 68 hymns mostly appearing in the Olney Hymns he jointly authored with John Newton is now being made available on the Internet for the benefit of believers world wide and to the glory of that same Lord in whom he humbly trusted for his salvation against the discouragement of mental illness. The hymns can be found at : www.netkonect.co.uk/k/ketsvc/cowp1.htm
It is hoped that the study of these hymns, in so far that they express the truth of God's Holy Word and genuine Christian experience, assist in the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a sad reflection upon our age that the worship of One worthy of the highest praises and adoration should have degenerated in so many churches and groups, into irreverence. This was not true of those genuine believers in former times like Cowper, Newton & Wesley. These reverent examples of hymn writers put to shame the shallowness of many of the modern hymns, sadly reflecting the adoption of the world's methods of entertainment, into what should be the distinctiveness of Christian worship. It should not be true of those whose hearts burn to worship God today in spirit and in truth. The author humbly acknowledges helpful material found from Cowper's two volumes of poetical works (now out of print) published in Edinburgh in 1869 by Nimmo and edited by Cowden Clarke, and the invaluable effort of my wife Shelagh in collating and proofing the hymns in electronic form. William Cowper, aristocrat, poet and hymn-writer but most importantly a believer in Jesus Christ, was born on 26 November 1731, at the Rectory, Great Berkhamstead, Hertsfordshire. He was the son of John Cowper, a minister of religion and Anne Cowper (nee Donne). Cowper died on 25 April 1800 and was buried in Derenham Church. Cowper's life was marred by mental illness and disease that made his Christian pilgrimage at times bitter and sorrowful. He had disappointments in his romantic life but he also found close friendships among believers e.g. William & Mary Unwin, and John & Mary Newton and a few others. He was a deeply sensitive man; of a nervous and imaginative disposition. At times a recluse he was conscious of God's grace and forgiveness, sometimes clouded by his illness but at other times shining unmistakably through his poetry, hymns and other writings and his fellowship with other Christians. Although Cowper was from an aristocratic social background he found acceptance and respect from many of the people who lived in the village of Olney where he spent some of his best years and co-authored the Olney Hymns with John Newton. Newton many will recall was once a wayward seaman and slave trader, but a champion against slavery when gloriously converted by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 3. William Cowper's Family Tree
Anne Cowper's death in 1737, was perhaps a key event in William's early life that may have caused him later depression. Her death had a traumatic effect it had on him. Not long after his mother's death William was sent to a boarding school aged only six years. This school was in Market Street, Hertfordshire and was run by Dr Pitman. While at this school Cowper was abused by another boy. The boy made his life a misery but eventually he was found out and subsequently expelled from the school. Cowper was also taken away from the school. Cowper's earliest experience of public schools caused him to develop a natural dislike for them. Cowper had an eye infection and almost lost his sight when a child. It lead to a weakening of his eyes throughout his life despite attempts to treat the malady. His key weaknesses by his own admission while at school were lying and it is believed by his earlier biographers that this was partly in self defence of the rough experience he had whilst at boarding school. His poems and hymns in contrast are full of truth. At the age of 10 years, Cowper went to Westminster School where he had a more positive experience than he had earlier. However, the seeds of Cowper's despondent disposition were revealed even here, where he thought, through his depression, that he had consumption and was going to die. His pessimism also drove him to focus upon his own depravity and the depravity he witnessed in others. Whilst at school Cowper's key interests were cricket & football, rambling and lonely country walks. He was a diligent student and showed signs of scholarly ability. Cowper started with verse / poetry while he was about 14 years old. He is said to have attempted a translation of Tibullus at this time. Cowper left Westminster school aged 18 years having developed a good standard of academic skills but does not appear to have had any particular emphasis of religion and his religious knowledge was comparatively weak. 6. Vocational Training and Interest in Theodora Cowper Cowper was then articled for three years with a Mr Chapman, in a solicitor's office and he lived with Mr Chapman for that period. He appears to have taken little interest in the study of law. On Sundays he stayed with his aunt at Southampton Row and attended church with his female cousins. In 1752, on his 21st Birthday Cowper took up lodgings at Middle Temple. It was here that his depressions began to set in more seriously. Violent attacks of mental malady affected his study and profession. Remarkably on 14 June 1756, he was called to the Bar. His father, John died in 1756. Three years after the death of his father (in 1759), Cowper moved from Middle to Inner Temple where he purchased chambers / lodgings. It was about this time that Cowper was made Commissioner of Bankrupts but he was more preoccupied with his interests in literature than the law and some say more with romance than literature. Cowper fell in love with Theodora Jane Cowper, the second daughter of his uncle Ashley Cowper. However her father discouraged the idea of their marriage given the closeness of relationship. Some believe that this was a smoke screen, and that the real reason for the opposition of this relationship may have been concern about Cowper's hereditary tendency to insanity. Cowper wasted much of his time whilst a member of the Nonsense Club. At this time Joseph Hill, another lawyer was amongst his closest friend, with whom he later kept up communications. Cowper neglected his studies and duties as a lawyer and this lead to a worsening in his financial position. At such times Cowper relied on the ` old boys network' to keep going. In one key instance about this time Cowper wished that the Clerk to the House of Lords would die that he could get his job by pulling strings with one of his influential relatives, Major Cowper. Cowper later regretted this and was full of remorse that he could entertain such thoughts. Cowper later described himself in respect of this matter as ` no better than a murderer'. It did so happen that the vacancy of the clerk of the journals in the House became available, and although Cowper was lined up for it a decision by a powerful party of influential men in the Lords made it a condition that the person who got the job must pass a test by close examination at the Bar of the House. This proved too stressful for Cowper and he fled to Margate to avoid the process. London and the City simply did not agree with Cowper. His sad experiences included feelings of suicide (which he actually attempted on several occasions), cursing his God, praying for madness, a belief that he was justly damned and lost spiritually. He had a terrible sense of self abhorrence. His days were days of darkness and his nights of despair. On one occasion when his brother, John Cowper visited him, he cried out, `O brother, I am damned !' In addition he had feelings of oppression and being under God's wrath. Cowper felt himself the greatest sinner on earth. At one stage he even threw away his Bible as having no further interest to him. Brief comfort came from a friend , Martin Madan, who was a chaplain of the Lock Hospital. Providentially, Cowper had sent for him at this time. It was Madan who pointed him to the blood of the Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through the deterioration of his condition he was moved to a private asylum kept by Dr Cotton at St. Albans. While at the private asylum of Dr Cotton, a kind hearted man, and through his talks with his brother, John who visited him, Cowper made some recovery from this bleak period of his life. His brother tried to show him that his feelings of inevitable damnation came from the mental delusions he suffered . `If it be by delusion, then am I the happiest of human beings', replied Cowper. Through the recovery Cowper had made he started to read his Bible. God's Word restored to him a sound mind and brought him seasonal comfort from his malady. 9. Corrupting Influence of London Society and his move to the Country Cowper felt that the corrupting influence of London society had contributed to his malady and he resolved to get away from it. He moved to the quietness of Huntingdon, where he first became acquainted with the Unwin family, with whom he was to have a lasting close relationship. On 11 November, 1765 Cowper took up lodgings with the Unwin family and became a part of their household. The Unwins, William Cawthorne Unwin, a minister of religion, Mary Cawthorne Unwin (to whom his poem, To Mary is dedicated) became his close friends. Whilst living with the Unwins, Cowper was partly supported by his relatives but they later got tired of supporting him and his support from them dried up, excepting the anonymous support of his cousin Theodora Cowper (who never married). When Morley Unwin, William Unwin's father, died from falling off a horse, the Unwins and Cowper moved to Olney. This appears to have been with the help of John Newton with whom the family had become aquatinted. It is reported that this assistance may have come from financial aid given to Newton from a rich benefactor named, Thornton, who encouraged him to use money he sent for help of the poor and needy. Newton acquired a house for the Unwins in Olney called `The Orchard'. This property was adjacent to his own vicarage. There was even an opening in the garden fencing that allowed both families: the Newtons, Unwins & Cowper to communicate as neighbours. The village of Olney at that time has been described by a nineteenth century editor of Cowper's Works, as: ` having no particular attractions, in point of scenery, it was simply a dull disagreeable English village, surrounded by tame marshy scenery, without a real hill to diversify the sameness, or even one nook of romantic interest to beautify the surrounding district' No doubt those visiting Olney today may form a different view. Cowper's brother John, appears to have died within three years of the move to Olney. Cowper's poem `Adelphi' gives insight into some of his feelings at this time. This was another sad episode in Cowper's life. It led to Cowper becoming more of a recluse and friends and relatives with whom he had kept up correspondence e.g. Lady Hesketh (his cousin), Hill (his friend) heard little if at all from him. At the same time Cowper's relationship with Mrs Mary Unwin and John Newton became more intense. They did much to make him happy through their kind and supportive influence. Among Cowper's interests at the time he lived in Olney were, regular bathing, keeping ferrets, walking, literature, and lively company. Work on the Olney hymns commenced about 1772 and in 1773 Cowper suffered another bout of mental illness, which was thankfully not as severe as some of his earlier bouts. These bouts may have been triggered by a number of possible factors including e.g. his brothers death, a possible refusal of marriage, Newton's (whose pastoral counselling proved invaluable to him) visits away from Olney, death of his cousin's husband Sir Thomas Hesketh. One period of Cowper's happiest moments was his relationship with Lady Austen, the wealthy widow of a Baronet, who previously lived in France. Cowper was infatuated with her as he found many of her interests similar to his. She was a lively influence on his life. Two of Cowper's best known poems, The Sofa (part of the Task) and John Gilpin were written at this time. She it was who suggested the title of the sofa. `What shall I write it on', asked Cowper `Write about this sofa', replied Lady Austen. The story of John Gilpin is also reported by one of Cowper's earlier biographers to have been inspired by her own account of a character. The intellectual stimulation and friendship seemed mutual, but did not develop into a lasting situation. It is also reported that there were minor jealousies between Mrs Unwin and Lady Austen and Lady Austen stepped out of Cowper's life at this point. Surprisingly, the impact of her departure did not seem to devastate Cowper as might have been expected, given the sensitivity of his nature. In 1785, Cowper resumed communication with his cousin Lady Hesketh, following publication of John Gilpin. The poem was hugely successful throughout the U.K at the time compared with the popularity of ` the song of the shirt', it made Cowper a national poet and paved the way for the popularity of `The Task'. Theodora kept up his support by sending him an annuity of £50 per annum and other presents. In 1786, Cowper moved to Weston, described as a more scenic village at that time. Soon after moving to Weston, his friend William Unwin fell sick suddenly with typhus fever and died. Another bout of depression set in and Cowper would not see anyone for six months except Mary Unwin. When he recovered he had gained some new friends including a young Englishman, Samuel Ross who admired his work and gave him a present of a copy of the poems of Burns, a Scottish contemporary poet. Cowper respected his work and Burns respected Cowper's poetry. In the final decade of his life, Cowper was removed by Johnson, to live in North Tuddenham, Norfolk. Mary Unwin died in 1796. It is said that on viewing her body, he spoke no more of her. His final years were very sad ones, reflected in what is reported to be his last poem, `The Castaway ' - a poem of utter despair and feelings of dejection and abandonment. This no doubt was attributable to his lifelong affliction, temptation and burden of mental illness; out of which bitterness we must remember, came the sweet hymns of Olney. Cowper's last words, he spoke to a woman offering him a drink `What does it signify', draws the sympathy of believers everywhere who have themselves passed through the shadows of mental despair, depression and illness. Our brother William died on 25 April 1800 and was buried in Derenham Church. His cousin Lady Hesketh erected a monument and his publisher Haley provided the inscription. Most importantly, we believe he is with the Lord Jesus Christ Who sympathises with the grief and sorrows of His people. The once distressed but profound poet of Olney is now fully clothed and in his right mind in the glories. Cowper was also involved in translations of Greek poets e.g. Homer which took up several years of his time. In 1791, Cowper completed his translation of Homer that had taken him 6 years to do. Some criticised him for the time he took translating and felt his time could be spent better on his own poetry. Views about his work, starting with the Johnson publication of his first Volume of poetry were not ecstatic. However his later poems of Gilpin, and the Task made him a nationally recognised poet. Some say that his poetry lacked music but the depth of his evangelical thought and the weight of his striking, profound, succinct and simple observations of life gave evangelical truth a cogency and relevance to his age that could not be ignored. For believers his hymns together with Newton's provide some of the richest sources of `songs and spiritual songs' for Bible believing Christians. Modern hymn writers and poets would do well to study the richness of Biblical analogy and divine truth echoed by the work of an undoubtedly deeply spiritual believer whose path in this life was shadowed by mental illness but who now in the Glories shines with the clarity of mind of the stars of heaven. William Cowper was in his pilgrimage a mourner, now blessed and comforted in the arms of his gracious Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, to Whose glory his work was sincerely aimed.
The Unofficial Olney Page of St Peter & St Paul Parish Church - Nice Photo of the Orchard House (Now the Cowper & Newton Museum at Olney etc . Selected Poetry of William Cowper - Life & Works - Toronto History of Hymns Writer Rejoices - A Fountain Filled with Blood- William Reynolds The Cyber Hymnal - Cowper - Some Hymns to sound here Academics who have done work on William Cowper - University of Manchester Dr Bill Hutchings |
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THE LIFE OF WILLIAM COWPER