William Cowper (1731 – 1800) was an English poet and hymnwriter, widely regarded as a forerunner of the Romantic movement. His poetry, rooted in themes of nature, faith, and human emotion, influenced later poets such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Despite personal struggles with mental illness, Cowper produced some of the most enduring religious and nature-inspired poetry of his time.
Born in Berkhamsted, England, Cowper was educated at Westminster School before training in law. However, he suffered from severe depression and was institutionalized after multiple suicide attempts. Finding solace in evangelical Christianity, he formed a close friendship with clergyman John Newton, co-authoring Olney Hymns (1779), which included the famous hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way.
Cowper’s poetry reflected his deep faith and love of nature. His major works, including The Task (1785) and The Diverting History of John Gilpin, blended humor, social commentary, and meditative reflections on the countryside. He was also an early advocate for the abolition of slavery, writing The Negro’s Complaint, which was later quoted by Martin Luther King Jr.
In his final years, Cowper struggled with recurring depression, yet his literary legacy continued to grow. His influence on Romantic poetry and religious hymnody remains profound, cementing his place as one of the 18th century’s most significant poets.