John Byrom

John Byrom or John Byrom of Kersal or John Byrom of Manchester FRS (29 February 1692 – 26 September 1763) was an English poet, the inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand and later a significant landowner. He is most remembered as the writer of the lyrics of Anglican hymn Christians Awake, salute the happy morn, which was supposedly a Christmas gift for his daughter.

Early life

Dr. John Byrom was descended from an old genteel Lancashire family. Ralph Byrom came to Manchester from Lowton in 1485, and became a prosperous wool merchant. His son Adam acquired property in Salford, Darcy Lever, Bolton and Ardwick (though his wealth did not prevent his mentally ill daughter from being accused of witchcraft). Edward Byrom helped to foil a Royalist plot to seize Manchester in 1642.

Byrom was born at what is now The Old Wellington Inn (part of the Old Shambles), Manchester, in 1692, (the property was then used as an office for market tolls, with accommodation on the upper floors). The Wellington Inn is now a major tourist attraction, and his birth is commemorated by a plaque in the bar area. However, some sources claim that he was born at Kersal Cell in Lower Kersal in the township of Broughton, near Salford just outside Manchester. According to Bailey he was one of the tallest men in the kingdom.

John Byrom (footballer)

John Byrom (born 28 July 1944 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English former footballer.

Signed by his home town club, Blackburn Rovers where he had won England international youth honours, he played over 100 games for them before being signed in the summer of 1966 by near neighbours Bolton Wanderers for £25,000. Originally signed to partner Francis Lee and Wyn Davies, when both players quickly left, Byrom became the senior striker. As Bolton moved between the second and third divisions of English football, he scored 130 goals in his ten years at Burnden Park, including twenty when Bolton won the Third Division title in 1973, before moving back to Blackburn for a final season, retiring in 1977 with a knee injury.

The Bolton fans' song for him was "Someone scored a goal, John Byrom" to the tune of cumbaya.

On retiring, he took many jobs including driving, sweeping and selling cars before finally setting up his own gas cylinder business, from which he retired in the mid-1990s. He now lives in the Ribble Valley.

John Byrom (cricketer)

John Lewis Byrom (20 July 1851 – 24 August 1931) was an English first-class cricketer, who played two matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1874, home and away against Gloucestershire, and for the Gentlemen of the North against the Players of the North at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield, in September 1877. His right arm fast medium bowling was not called upon in the first-class game.

Born in Saddleworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Byrom died aged 80, in August 1931 in Delph, Saddleworth.

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