Medley, Samuel

(1738-1799)

   He was born at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, where his father ran a school, having previously been tutor to the Duke of Montague and attorney-general of the Island of St. Vincent. Medley, who had joined the Royal Navy in 1755, was wounded during the sea battle on 18 August 1759 off Cape Lagos, Portugal, between the flagship Namur, commanded by Admiral Edward Boscawen, and the defeated French ship de la Clue. He experienced a religious conversion and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1768 and took charge of Byrom Street church in Liverpool in 1772. He was immensely popular in Liverpool, particularly among the seamen of the port. He was a prolific writer of hymns, first printed in the Gospel Magazine and other publications. Some of his publications: Hymns, 1785. Hymns on Select Portions of Scripture, 1785. Hymns, 1794. Original and Miscellaneous Poems, 1807 (published by his daughter). Some of his hymns/poems: "Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays," "Father of Mercies, God of Love," "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," "Mortals Awake, with Angels Join," "Now, in a Song of Grateful Praise," "What Amazing Words of Grace."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm).