When Sheffield legend James Montgomery died in 1854 a life-size bronze statue was erected in his honour. He was mourned as a generous philanthropist, prolific hymn-writer, captain of industry and life-long abolitionist. Half a century earlier Montgomery known as editor of Sheffield’s most radical newspaper, in which he published dangerous poems of protest. In 1795 Montgomery was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, branded a ‘treasonous and seditious libeller’ and condemned to a sentence in York Castle Prison. This lecture will contextualise the poetry he wrote from this cell, shining light on a forgotten moment in the York’s history.

This is an opportunity to become acquainted with one of Britain’s most unfairly forgotten poets: a man who was friends with William Wordsworth and Bob Southey, championed by Lord Byron and regarded by one of his early American biographers as a ‘lost Romantic.’ Not only will the audience meet Montgomery through his works and poetry, but in this lecture they will find him enduring the most difficult trials of his career (literally and figuratively) as he was confined to a cell here in York, simply for questioning the decisions of his so-called social superiors.

For more information or to book a ticket visit www.yortime.org.uk.