Joseph Medlicott Scriven (10 September 1819 – 10 August 1886) was an Irish-born Canadian poet, renowned for writing the poem that became the beloved hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland, Scriven graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1842. His life was marked by personal tragedy; his fiancée drowned accidentally in 1843, the night before their wedding. In 1844, Scriven emigrated to Canada, settling in Woodstock, Ontario, driven by his spiritual calling to serve in his Plymouth Brethren faith.

Scriven initially conducted a private school in Brantford, Ontario. In 1855, while in Bewdley, Ontario, he penned the poem "Pray Without Ceasing" to comfort his ill mother in Ireland. This poem was later set to music by Charles Crozat Converse and became the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Scriven did not intend for the poem to be published, but it gained worldwide popularity among Christians.

Tragedy struck again when his second fiancée died of pneumonia in 1860. Following this, Scriven dedicated his life to tutoring, preaching, and helping others, often living in the homes of others due to a lack of steady income. He published a collection of hymns in 1869, though it did not include his famous hymn.

Scriven died in 1886 in Bewdley, Ontario, under mysterious circumstances, possibly due to an accident or suicide, as he suffered from depression. He was buried next to his second fiancée. A monument was erected at his grave, and a plaque commemorates his contributions along the Port Hope-Peterborough Highway. Despite his personal hardships, Scriven's legacy endures through his hymn, which continues to offer solace to many.