John Palmer (Unitarian, 1742–1786)
Encyclopedia
John Palmer was an English Unitarian minister.
. He was a protégé of John Taylor, who began his education, and, on becoming divinity tutor at Warrington Academy
, placed Palmer (1756) at school in Congleton
, Cheshire
, under Edward Harwood
. He entered Warrington Academy in 1759; Joseph Priestley
was, from 1761, one of his tutors. In his last year he was constant supply (14 May 1763 to 15 August 1764) at Allostock
, Cheshire.
He then kept a school at Macclesfield
, Cheshire. In 1772 he became minister of King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield. There was an orthodox secession from his ministry; he consequently resigned in 1779, and moved to Birmingham
without regular charge, being in independent circumstances. At Birmingham he renewed his acquaintance with Priestley, and was a member of a fortnightly clerical club which arranged the material for the Theological Repository
. In 1782 Priestley recommended him, but without effect, as colleague to Joseph Bretland
at Exeter
.
Palmer died of paralysis at Birmingham on Tuesday, 26 December 1786, and was buried in the Old Meeting graveyard on 2 January 1787; Priestley preached (8 January) his funeral sermon. He married, first, at Macclesfield, Miss Heald; secondly, in 1777, the eldest daughter of Thomas White, dissenting minister at Derby
, by whom he left one daughter.
His contributions to the Theological Repository (1769–71) are signed ‘G.H.;’ contributions in later volumes (1784–6) are signed ‘Christophilos,’ ‘Symmachus,’ and ‘Erasmus.’ A letter from him is printed in Priestley's Harmony of the Evangelists (1780).
Life
The son of John Palmer, wig-maker, he was born at NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. He was a protégé of John Taylor, who began his education, and, on becoming divinity tutor at Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy, active as a teaching establishment from 1756 to 1782, was a prominent dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by those who dissented from the state church in England...
, placed Palmer (1756) at school in Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, under Edward Harwood
Edward Harwood
Edward Harwood was a prolific English classical scholar and biblical critic.-Life:He was born at Darwen, Lancashire, in 1729. After attending a school at Darwen, he went in 1745 to the Blackburn grammar school under Thomas Hunter, afterwards vicar of Weaverham, Cheshire. Hunter wished him to enter...
. He entered Warrington Academy in 1759; Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
was, from 1761, one of his tutors. In his last year he was constant supply (14 May 1763 to 15 August 1764) at Allostock
Allostock
thumb|right|200px|Map of Allostock civil parish within the former borough of Vale RoyalAllostock is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, about five miles south of Knutsford. It has a population of 783...
, Cheshire.
He then kept a school at Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, Cheshire. In 1772 he became minister of King Edward Street Chapel, Macclesfield. There was an orthodox secession from his ministry; he consequently resigned in 1779, and moved to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
without regular charge, being in independent circumstances. At Birmingham he renewed his acquaintance with Priestley, and was a member of a fortnightly clerical club which arranged the material for the Theological Repository
Theological Repository
The Theological Repository was a periodical founded and edited from 1769 to 1771 by the eighteenth-century British polymath Joseph Priestley...
. In 1782 Priestley recommended him, but without effect, as colleague to Joseph Bretland
Joseph Bretland
Joseph Bretland , was an English dissenting minister.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Bretland, an Exeter tradesman, was born at Exeter 22 May 1742. He was for several years a day scholar at the Exeter grammar school, and was placed in business in 1757, but shortly after left it for the ministry...
at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
.
Palmer died of paralysis at Birmingham on Tuesday, 26 December 1786, and was buried in the Old Meeting graveyard on 2 January 1787; Priestley preached (8 January) his funeral sermon. He married, first, at Macclesfield, Miss Heald; secondly, in 1777, the eldest daughter of Thomas White, dissenting minister at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, by whom he left one daughter.
Works
He published:- ‘Free Remarks on a Sermon entitled “The Requisition of Subscription not inconsistent with Christian Liberty,”’ &c., 1772, anon.
- ‘A Letter to Dr. Balguy,’ &c., 1773, (reply to the archidiaconal charge, 1772, by Thomas BalguyThomas BalguyThomas Balguy was an English churchman, archdeacon of Salisbury from 1759 and then archdeacon of Winchester.-Life:He was the son of John Balguy, and was born at Cox-Close 27 September, 1716, educated at the Ripon Free School, and admitted to St John's College, Cambridge in 1734; was B.A. 1737,...
). - ‘A New System of Shorthand; being an Improvement upon … Byrom,’ &c., 1774.
- ‘An Examination of Thelyphthora,’ &c., 1781. Against Martin MadanMartin MadanMartin Madan was an English barrister, clergyman and writer, known for controversial views on marriage expressed in his book Thelyphthora.-Life:...
.
His contributions to the Theological Repository (1769–71) are signed ‘G.H.;’ contributions in later volumes (1784–6) are signed ‘Christophilos,’ ‘Symmachus,’ and ‘Erasmus.’ A letter from him is printed in Priestley's Harmony of the Evangelists (1780).