George Linley

George Linley (27 December 1797 – 10 September 1865), was an English verse-writer and musical composer, who was born in Leeds. He contributed verses to the local newspapers and published some pamphlets, before leaving his native city in early life. After a period of military service, he lived at first in Edinburgh but finally settled in London, where he gained a reputation as a writer and composer of songs and ballads. He is perhaps best known for writing the English lyrics to the song, "God Bless the Prince of Wales". 2Biography 3Early life Linley was born on 27 December 1797 and baptised on 7 February 1798 at Leeds Parish Church, the younger son of James Linley, a tinplate worker, and his wife Ann. His early education was under Joshua Eastburn, a quaker, at Leeds Grammar School. At the age of 16, he joined the 3rd West Yorkshire militia as an ensign, serving in Doncaster and Dublin. Linley started his writing career in Leeds, penning lampooning verses about local dignitaries. This antagonised the victims such that Linley reportedly "bolted to London in a huff". He later moved to Edinburgh, where he married and was briefly a partner in a mercantile firm in Leit