Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rhodes, Ebenezer
RHODES, EBENEZER (1762–1839), topographer, was born in Yorkshire, probably at Sheffield, in 1762. He entered the cutlery trade, and was elected master-cutler in 1808. Rhodes made many excursions with James Montgomery [q. v.], whom he had first met accidentally on an antiquarian tour, to Monsal Dale, Miller's Dale, and other parts of Derbyshire. In 1818 he published the first part of his folio edition of his ‘Peak Scenery, or the Derbyshire Tourist,’ dedicated to the Duke of Devonshire and illustrated by Chantrey. It was completed in four parts by 1824, and republished, London, 1824, 8vo, without the plates. This was followed by ‘Yorkshire Scenery,’ pt. i. London, 1826, 4to (no more published). In 1837 Rhodes issued a small ‘Derbyshire Tourist's Guide and Travelling Companion.’ All his books involved him in financial loss, although his ‘Peak Scenery’ remains a standard work. Apart from these ventures, he had turned his attention to journalism, and for a few years was editor of the ‘Sheffield Independent.’ Meanwhile his business failed, and before his death he became a bankrupt. A fund was raised for his support, to which Montgomery subscribed 100l., while Chantrey privately gave Rhodes 50l. a year. Rhodes thenceforth made a small income by preparing steel plates for engravers by a novel process. He died, in embarrassed circumstances, on 16 Dec. 1839 in Victoria Street, Sheffield, leaving a family unprovided for.
[Hunter's Hallamshire, p. 346; Leader's Reminiscences of Old Sheffield, pp. 58, 109, 220, 221–2; Montgomery's Life by Holland and Everett, i. 136, ii. 28, 39, 203, 359, iii. 305, 327, iv. 245, v. 373; Sheffield Iris, 17 Dec. 1839; information from Mr. J. Rodgers of Newark.]