George Canning

George Canning was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly as Prime Minister in 1827. He was also known for his oratory skills and wrote poetry that reflected his political views. Canning's work often focused on themes of freedom and justice, mirroring his liberal political stance. Despite his short tenure as Prime Minister, his impact on British politics was significant.

April 11, 1770

August 8, 1827

English

George Canning

Elderly Gentleman, The

By the side of a murmuring stream an elderly gentleman sat.
On the top of his head was a wig, and a-top of his wig was his hat.

The wind it blew high and blew strong, as the elderly gentleman sat;
And bore from his head in a trice, and plunged in the river his hat.

The gentleman then took his cane which lay by his side as he sat;
And he dropped in the river his wig, in attempting to get out his hat.

His breast it grew cold with despair, and full in his eye madness sat;
So he flung in the river his cane to swim with his wig, and his hat.

Cool reflection at last came across while this elderly gentleman sat;
So he thought he would follow the stream and look for his cane, wig, and hat.

His head being thicker than common, o'er-balanced the rest of his fat;
And...

George Canning

Knife-Grinder, The

            Friend of Humanity

"Needy Knife-grinder! whither are you going?
Rough is the road, your wheel is out of order,
Bleak blows the blast; your hat has got a hole in't,
                So have your breeches!

"Weary Knife-grinder! little think the proud ones,
Who in their coaches roll along the turnpike-
Road, what hard work 'tis crying all day' Knives and
                Scissors to grind O!'

"Tell me, Knife-grinder, how you came to grind knives?
Did some rich man tyrannically use you?
Was it the squire? or parson of the parish?
                Or the attorney?

"Was it the squire, for killing of his game? or
Covetous parson, for his tithes distraining?
Or roguish lawyer, made you lose your little
                All in a l...

George Canning

Song, Of One Eleven Years In Prison

                I

Whene'er with haggard eyes I view
    This dungeon that I'm rotting in,
I think of those companions true
Who studied with me at the U
        niversity of Gottingen,
        niversity of Gottingen.

[Weeps, and pulls out a blue kerchief, with which he wipes his eyes; gazing tenderly at it, he proceeds]

                II

Sweet kerchief, check'd with heavenly blue,
    Which once my love sat knotting in!
Alas! Matilda then was true!
    At least I thought so at the U
        niversity of Gottingen,
        niversity of Gottingen.

[At the repetition of this line he clanks his chains in cadence.]

            III

Barbs! Barbs! alas! how swift you flew,
    Her neat post-wagon trotting in!<...

George Canning