George Linnaeus Banks

George Linnaeus Banks (1821–1881) was a versatile British journalist, orator, and poet whose life was dedicated to social reform and the power of the written word. Born in Birmingham, he spent his career editing various newspapers across England and Scotland, using his platform to advocate for civic progress and the betterment of the working classes.

Literary Partnership

In 1846, he married Isabella Varley, who became a famous novelist and poet in her own right (best known for The Manchester Man). The couple shared a deep literary bond, frequently collaborating on poetry collections such as Daisies in the Grass (1865). Their home in London was a hub for literary and social activists of the mid-Victorian era.

"What I Live For"

While Banks wrote extensively for the press, he is immortalized in hymnody for a single, powerful poem titled "What I Live For" (often appearing in hymnals as "I live for those who love me").

The text is a quintessential expression of Victorian altruism and social responsibility. Rather than focusing on abstract theology, the hymn emphasizes the practical application of faith through service to humanity. Its famous opening stanzas outline a manifesto for a meaningful life:

• I live for those who love me, for those who know me true.

• For the heaven that smiles above me, and awaits my spirit too.

• For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance.

• For the future in the distance, and the good that I can do.

Influence and Legacy

The hymn gained immense popularity in the late 19th century, particularly within the Temperance movementand social reform societies. It was frequently set to music in the Tonic Sol-fa Reporter, making it accessible to amateur choirs and school children across the British Empire.

Banks was known as a brilliant public speaker, often traveling to deliver "orations" on history and social justice. He died in London on May 3, 1881. While much of his journalistic work was ephemeral, his poetic call to live for "the cause that lacks assistance" remains a standard anthem for humanitarian and religious organizations, embodying the spirit of active, selfless service.