Ebenezer Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Rhodes topographer, was born in Masborough near Rotherham
, in 1762. He entered the cutlery
trade in 1777 and served a seven year apprenticeship. He was interested in reading and the theatre but his occupation was as a senior partnership with David Champion in a business that made scissors. To the production of fine scissors, the firm added the making of razors
and in both these classes of articles they acquired a fine reputation.
Rhodes was elected in 1808 to be head of Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
and became Master Cutler
. In August, the members gave their president a gold cup in acknowledgment of his public services in the establishment of the Institution.
Rhodes started to become associated with debating societies. One of these associations was called The Society of the Friends of Literature. Its meetings were held at a public house in Sheffield. Rhodes held a conspicuous place as an intelligent and fluent converser and as a Jacobin
politician. Amongst this group were the Rev John Pye Smith the theological writer and James Montgomery
the Christian poet and philanthropist. These groups were eventually proscribed as they were thought to be a source of sedition.
, to Monsal Dale
, Millers Dale
, and other parts of Derbyshire
. In 1818 he published the first part of his folio edition of his ' Peak Scenery, or the Derbyshire Tourist,' dedicated to the Duke of Devonshire
and illustrated by F.L.Chantrey
. This was followed by part one of Yorkshire Scenery which was the only part ever published. In 1837 Rhodes issued a small Derbyshire Tourist's Guide and Travelling Companion. All his books involved him in financial loss, although his Peak Scenery remains a standard work. Apart from these ventures, he had turned his attention to journalism, and for a number of years he was editor of the Sheffield Independent.
.
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, in 1762. He entered the cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
trade in 1777 and served a seven year apprenticeship. He was interested in reading and the theatre but his occupation was as a senior partnership with David Champion in a business that made scissors. To the production of fine scissors, the firm added the making of razors
Straight razor
A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors.Although straight razors were once the principal method of manual shaving, they have been largely overshadowed by the safety razor, incorporating a disposable blade...
and in both these classes of articles they acquired a fine reputation.
Rhodes was elected in 1808 to be head of Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire
The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire is a trade guild of metalworkers based in Sheffield, England. It was incorporated in 1624 by an Act of parliament. The head is called the Master Cutler...
and became Master Cutler
Master Cutler
The Master Cutler is the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire established in 1624. Their role is to act as an ambassador of industry in Sheffield, England. The Master Cutler is elected by the freemen of the company on the first Monday of September of each year and the position taken in the...
. In August, the members gave their president a gold cup in acknowledgment of his public services in the establishment of the Institution.
Rhodes started to become associated with debating societies. One of these associations was called The Society of the Friends of Literature. Its meetings were held at a public house in Sheffield. Rhodes held a conspicuous place as an intelligent and fluent converser and as a Jacobin
Jacobin (politics)
A Jacobin , in the context of the French Revolution, was a member of the Jacobin Club, a revolutionary far-left political movement. The Jacobin Club was the most famous political club of the French Revolution. So called from the Dominican convent where they originally met, in the Rue St. Jacques ,...
politician. Amongst this group were the Rev John Pye Smith the theological writer and James Montgomery
James Montgomery
James Montgomery was a British editor, hymnwriter and poet. He was particularly associated with humanitarian causes such as the campaigns to abolish slavery and to end the exploitation of child chimney sweeps....
the Christian poet and philanthropist. These groups were eventually proscribed as they were thought to be a source of sedition.
Peak scenery
Rhodes made many excursions with James MontgomeryJames Montgomery
James Montgomery was a British editor, hymnwriter and poet. He was particularly associated with humanitarian causes such as the campaigns to abolish slavery and to end the exploitation of child chimney sweeps....
, to Monsal Dale
Monsal Dale
Monsal Dale is a valley in the Peak District of Derbyshire in England.In geological history this area of Derbyshire was long ago under water, and is formed from a subsequent uplift of resultant sedimentary deposits, known as the Derbyshire Dome...
, Millers Dale
Millers Dale
Millers Dale is a valley on the River Wye in Derbyshire.It is a popular beauty spot in the Peak District of England, much of the area being preserved as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Nearby is Ravenstor and Cheedale, both popular with rock-climbers...
, and other parts of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. In 1818 he published the first part of his folio edition of his ' Peak Scenery, or the Derbyshire Tourist,' dedicated to the Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
and illustrated by F.L.Chantrey
Francis Legatt Chantrey
Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey was an English sculptor of the Georgian era. He left the Chantrey Bequest or Chantrey Fund for the purchase of works of art for the nation, which was available from 1878 after the death of his widow.-Life:Francis Leggatt Chantrey was born at Norton near Sheffield ,...
. This was followed by part one of Yorkshire Scenery which was the only part ever published. In 1837 Rhodes issued a small Derbyshire Tourist's Guide and Travelling Companion. All his books involved him in financial loss, although his Peak Scenery remains a standard work. Apart from these ventures, he had turned his attention to journalism, and for a number of years he was editor of the Sheffield Independent.
Bankruptcy
Meanwhile his business failed, and before his death he became a bankrupt. A fund was raised for his support, to which Montgomery subscribed £100., while Chantrey privately gave Rhodes £50/- a year. Rhodes thenceforth made a small income by preparing steel plates for engravers by a novel process. He died, a poor man, on 16 December 1839 at his home in Victoria Street, SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Publications
- Essay on the Manufacture, Choice and Management of a Razor By E Rhodes Cutler Sheffield 1809
- Peak Scenery, or the Derbyshire Tourist,' dedicated to the Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 7th Duke of DevonshireWilliam Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled as Lord Cavendish of Keighley between 1831 and 1834 and known as The Earl of Burlington between 1834 and 1858, was a British landowner, benefactor and politician.-Background and education:Cavendish was the son of William Cavendish, eldest...
and illustrated by F.L.ChantreyFrancis Legatt ChantreySir Francis Legatt Chantrey was an English sculptor of the Georgian era. He left the Chantrey Bequest or Chantrey Fund for the purchase of works of art for the nation, which was available from 1878 after the death of his widow.-Life:Francis Leggatt Chantrey was born at Norton near Sheffield ,...
. 181-1824 - YorkshireYorkshireYorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
Scenery,' pt. 1. London, 1826 - Derbyshire Tourist's Guide and Travelling Companion.' 1837
- The poets of Yorkshire (he was included), William Cartwright Newsam 1845
Further reading
- Mackerness, E. D. 'The harvest of failure : Ebenezer Rhodes (1762-1839)'. Derbyshire Archaeological Journal, 101 (1981), 107-18. Publisher: Derbyshire Archaeological Society. ISSN 00703788.