The Diverting History of John Gilpin (Annotated)

The Diverting History of John Gilpin Shewing how he went Farther than he intended, and came safe Home once again is a comic ballad by William Cowper written in 1782.The ballad concerns a draper called John Gilpin who rides a runaway horse. The story of Lady Anna Austen brought Cowper hope throughout his intense depression, and motivated him to pen The poem in verse. it was initially published anonymously in The Public Advertise r in 1782 then collectively with the Task in 1785, and gained such recognition that "pirate copies of The story were for sale across The nation, alongside Gilpin books and toys."

In 1878, Randolph Caldecott illustrated the poem and Edmund Evans printed it again. The Caldecott Medal's obverse is derived from Caldecott's rendering of Gilpin riding the horse.