John Bedford Leno (29 June 1826 – 31 October 1894) was a Chartist, radical, poet, and printer who acted as a "bridge" between Chartism and early Labour movements, as well as between the working and ruling classes.

He was called the "Burns of Labour" and "the poet of the poor" for his political songs and poems, which were sold widely in penny publications, and recited and sung by workers in Britain, Europe and America.

He owned, edited and contributed to Radical and Liberal newspapers and journals, and printed and distributed bills advertising London Reform meetings and demonstrations.

He was the eldest child of John Leno (1800–1885) (Gentleman's footman, baker and publican) and Phoebe Bedford (1801–1875) (lady's maid, needlewoman & teacher in a Dame's school) who met whilst working for Mr. Chippendale, a well known Uxbridge philanthropist.

During this time, Uxbridge was regularly visited by theatre groups and John Bedford Leno watched numerous actors perform with admiration.

When one of the visiting theatre companies hit some bad luck, and was on the verge of bankruptcy, John Bedford Leno was spurred into action.

Political differences soon caused a split in this group and John Bedford Leno and Gerald Massey went on to produce their own paper: Spirit of Freedom, and Working Man's Vindicator.

When their existence became known to the heads of the Christian Socialists, they received considerable financial support, from the likes of Frederick Maurice and Thomas Hughes, the author of Tom Brown's Schooldays.

The "Co-operative Printers' Association" disbanded after three years and John Bedford Leno set up his own printing shop in Drury Lane, London in which he lived with his family for most of the rest of his life.

Here John Bedford Leno reminisced about conversing with the Russian who he found to "be deeply interested, a firm believer in the doctrines and who never ceased to advocate".

John Bedford Leno was also a Delegate of the International and a member of the committee appointed to meet Lajos Kossuth in 1851 and Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1864, the Hungarian and Italian revolutionaries.

However, Leno declined, having just started his own group (known as the Propagandists who pledged to speak on behalf of the working class, free of pay).

When the Reform League was established to press for manhood suffrage and the ballot, John Bedford Leno was elected a member of its council almost unanimously.

While arguing with the police, Leno's friend, Humphreys, noticed that the railings would stand no pressure and began to sway them backwards and forwards.

Leno and the leaders of the Reform League heard a rumour that the government was determined to oppose it and so decided to confront the Home Secretary, Walpole.

He met a dozen members of the Reform League, including John Bedford Leno, in a private room of the "White Horse" in Rathbone Place.

He proposed that they create civil war in England and offered the service of two thousand sworn members of the Fenian body, and that he would act as their leader.

The next day the meeting was fully reported in The Times, although Leno's speech had been attributed to George Odger, who had in fact supported Cluseret's proposal.

At the time of the General Election Leno was rewarded by being chosen as the parliamentary agent of the former secretary of the Reform League, George Howell, in the Aylesbury division.

Unfortunately, they were faced by millionaire bankers, John Abel Smith and Lionel de Rothschild, who could afford to transport all of their voters to the poll, and Howell lost by two hundred votes.

Whenever it was thought advisable to send deputations on questions affecting the working classes he was generally chosen, and so would meet with Palmerston, Disraeli, Derby and Gladstone.

– Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9 January 1868 "Drury Lane Lyrics show keen relish for eternal beauty and deep sympathy with human nature under various circumstances."

– Athenaeum, 28 March 1868 "Mr. Leno's 'Lyrics' are on the side of labour and struggling humanity, and will serve in no small degree to cheer the working man" – Falmouth and Penryn Weekly Times, 11 January 1868 His most popular song.

There's a magic about it That turns the black soil into bright shining gold, What would our fathers have done, boys, without it, – When the land lay all bare, and the night winds blew cold?

Where the tall forest stood, and the wild beasts were yelling, And our stout-hearted ancestors shrank back afraid, – The rich corn-stack is raised, and man claims a dwelling, Then hurrah!

"The Music is melodious and facile – the Words straight forward and sensible, such as we should be glad to see more frequently wedded to sweet Music – and is likely to prove a favourite" – The Sunday Times, October 1857 Judge not a man by the cost of his clothing, Unheeding the life-path that he may pursue, Or oft you'll admire a heart that needs loathing, And fail to give honour where honour is due.

The palm may be hard, the fingers stiff jointed, – The coat may be tattered, the cheek worn with tears; But greater than kings are labour's anointed!

Give me the man as a friend and a neighbour Who toils at the loom – with the spade – or the plough; Who wins his diploma of manhood by labour, And purchases wealth by the sweat of his brow.

What Ebeneezer Elliott was to the principles of Free Trade in Corn, John Bedford Leno is to the more enduring theme of Labour – Equally strong, plain, and uncompromising" – Woolwich Gazette, 18 January 1868 The Wizard, King Labour, walked over the land, And the spade for a sceptre he bore; And each step he took left an Eden behind, While the desert untamed frowned before.

He levelled huge mountains, and blasted the rocks, Where for ages vast treasures lay hid; And shewed Heaven the coffer where Earth stored her wealth, And laughed loud as he shattered the lid.