George Croly

George Croly was an Irish poet, novelist, historian, and Anglican priest. He was rector of St. Stephen Walbrook in the City of London from 1835 until his death.

Croly was a leading contributor to the Literary Gazette and Blackwood's Magazine, from the establishment of both in 1817, and was also associated with the Tory magazine Britannia. He worked as a theatre critic for the New Times and later as a foreign correspondent. He wrote poems, plays, satires, novels, history, and theological works, and achieved some measure of success in all. Perhaps his best known works were his novels, Salathiel (1828), based on the legend of the Wandering Jew, and Marston (1846). His main contribution to theological literature was an exposition of the Apocalypse. His hymns included Spirit of God, descend upon my heart written in 1854.