author
John Roby
1793–1850
Best known for preserving the folklore of northwest England, this 19th-century writer brought Lancashire’s legends and local history to life with a storyteller’s touch. He balanced a banking career with literary work, leaving behind tales, poems, and regional traditions that stayed in print long after his death.
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About the author
Born in Wigan on January 5, 1793, John Roby was an English banker, poet, and writer. He is most closely associated with Lancashire’s folklore and historical traditions, and his name is especially linked to Traditions of Lancashire, the work that made him remembered as a collector and reteller of local legend.
Roby spent much of his working life in banking while pursuing literature alongside it, which gives his career a distinctive double character: practical by profession, but deeply drawn to stories, poetry, and antiquarian interests. His writing helped preserve older regional tales for new readers, blending history, legend, and atmosphere in a way that appealed strongly to 19th-century audiences.
He died on June 18, 1850. Later editions and collections of his work helped keep his reputation alive, and he remains of interest today for readers who enjoy folklore, Gothic-flavored storytelling, and the literary history of Lancashire.