Robert Stephen Hawker, widely known to his parishioners as "Parson Hawker," was an English Anglican priest, poet, and antiquarian. Serving the coastal parish of Morwenstow in Cornwall, Hawker developed a reputation for his eccentric personality, deep connection to local folklore, and pastoral devotion. His literary and clerical lives were deeply intertwined, reflecting a romantic fascination with Cornish history, legends, and the rugged coastal landscape.
Hawker's most enduring contribution to literature is "The Song of the Western Men," which he published anonymously in 1825. Featuring the famous refrain, "And shall Trelawny die? / Here's twenty thousand Cornish men / will know the reason why!", the poem was initially mistaken by many for a traditional, historical folk ballad. His authorship was eventually brought to wider public attention and validated after Charles Dickens acknowledged him in the popular serial magazine Household Words.
Beyond his famous anthem, Hawker was a dedicated antiquarian who collected local myths and wrote poetry steeped in religious devotion and regional identity. His eccentricities, such as wearing bright, non-traditional clerical garb and rescuing shipwrecked sailors, made him a legendary figure in Cornish history, bridging the gap between Victorian clerical duty and Romantic literary expression.
