William Carpenter (1797-1874)
Encyclopedia
William Carpenter, born in 1797 at St James, Westminster, London, England, died on April 21, 1874 at Islington
, London, was a 19th Century theological and political writer, journalist, and editor.
. He received no formal schooling, but by self-study he learned to read and write, and taught himself several ancient and modern languages. At an early age he began working for a bookseller in Finsbury
, first as an errand boy, and then as an apprentice.
's polyglot Bibles, and began co-editing Scripture Magazine, which they eventually expanded into the four-volume work Critica Biblica in 1824-1827. This employment allowed him to devote time to literary pursuits, and he began writing theological and general works, establishing himself as contributor to and editor of numerous periodicals. In 1830 he issued a series of Political Letters with which he attempted to defy the stamp duty
on newspapers, but in May 1831 he was tried and convicted of evading the law and was imprisoned. While in prison, he edited a political magazine which was republished as Carpenter's Monthly Political Magazine in 1832. He became intensely involved in the cause of political reform, publishing numerous tracts and books on the subject through the late 1840s. He was a strong proponent of the Chartist
movement and a friend of William Cobbett
. He was also an active Freemason and contributor to the London Freemason magazine. He continued to publish scriptural works throughout his life, which were also popular in America. His The Israelites Found in the Anglo-Saxons (1874) was an early work on British Israelism
. In his elderly years, he suffered from near total loss of sight.
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London, was a 19th Century theological and political writer, journalist, and editor.
Early life
Carpenter was the son of a London tradesmanTradesman
This article is about the skilled manual worker meaning of the term; for other uses see Tradesperson .A tradesman is a skilled manual worker in a particular trade or craft. Economically and socially, a tradesman's status is considered between a laborer and a professional, with a high degree of both...
. He received no formal schooling, but by self-study he learned to read and write, and taught himself several ancient and modern languages. At an early age he began working for a bookseller in Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
, first as an errand boy, and then as an apprentice.
Career
While at Finsbury, Carpenter became acquainted with the philologist William Greenfield, editor of Samuel Bagster the ElderSamuel Bagster the Elder
Samuel Bagster the elder , was the founder of the publishing firm of Bagster & Sons.-Early Life:Bagster was born 26 December 1772, the second son of George and Mary Bagster, of Beaufort Buildings and St. Pancras. He was educated at Northampton under the Rev...
's polyglot Bibles, and began co-editing Scripture Magazine, which they eventually expanded into the four-volume work Critica Biblica in 1824-1827. This employment allowed him to devote time to literary pursuits, and he began writing theological and general works, establishing himself as contributor to and editor of numerous periodicals. In 1830 he issued a series of Political Letters with which he attempted to defy the stamp duty
Stamp duty
Stamp duty is a tax that is levied on documents. Historically, this included the majority of legal documents such as cheques, receipts, military commissions, marriage licences and land transactions. A physical stamp had to be attached to or impressed upon the document to denote that stamp duty...
on newspapers, but in May 1831 he was tried and convicted of evading the law and was imprisoned. While in prison, he edited a political magazine which was republished as Carpenter's Monthly Political Magazine in 1832. He became intensely involved in the cause of political reform, publishing numerous tracts and books on the subject through the late 1840s. He was a strong proponent of the Chartist
Chartist
Chartist may refer to:*Chartist , a person who uses charts for technical analysis*Chartist , a British social democratic periodical*An adherent of Chartism, a 19th-century political and social reform movement in the UK...
movement and a friend of William Cobbett
William Cobbett
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist, who was born in Farnham, Surrey. He believed that reforming Parliament and abolishing the rotten boroughs would help to end the poverty of farm labourers, and he attacked the borough-mongers, sinecurists and "tax-eaters" relentlessly...
. He was also an active Freemason and contributor to the London Freemason magazine. He continued to publish scriptural works throughout his life, which were also popular in America. His The Israelites Found in the Anglo-Saxons (1874) was an early work on British Israelism
British Israelism
British Israelism is the belief that people of Western European descent, particularly those in Great Britain, are the direct lineal descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. The concept often includes the belief that the British Royal Family is directly descended from the line of King David...
. In his elderly years, he suffered from near total loss of sight.
Major Works
- Critica Biblica, or, Depositary of Sacred Literature in four volumes (London: William Booth, 1824–1827)
- Scientia biblica: Containing the New Testament, in the original tongue, with the English Vulgate, and a copious and original collection of parallel passages, printed in words at length (London: W. Booth, 1825)
- A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, for the Use of English Readers (London: Wightman and Cramp, 1826)
- Popular Lectures on Biblical Criticism and Interpretation (London: Thomas TeggThomas Tegg-Early life:He was the son of a grocer, born at Wimbledon, Surrey, on 4 March 1776, and was left an orphan at the age of five. He was sent to a boarding school at Galashiels in Selkirkshire. In 1785 he was bound apprentice to Alexander Meggett, a book-seller at Dalkeith. He ran away, sold chapbook...
, 1829) - Anecdotes of the French revolution of 1830 (London, W. Strange, 1830)
- Political Letters and Pamphlets, with a Full Report of the Editor's Trial and Conviction, in the Court of Exchequer, at Westminster (London: William Carpenter, 1830–1831)
- An Address to the Working Classes on the Reform Bill (London: W. Strange, 1831)
- Scripture Natural History: A Descriptive Account of the Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the Bible (London: Wightman and Cramp, 1828, reprinted at Boston: Lincoln, Edmands & Co., 1833)
- The Political Text Book; Comprising a View of the Origin and Objects of Government, and An Examination of the Principal Social and Political Institutions of England (London: William Strange, 1833)
- The Literary Assistant; A Comprehensive Dictionary of English Synonyms (London: Thomas Tegg and Son, 1833)
- The Biblical Companion, or An Introduction to the Reading and Study of the Holy Scriptures (London: Thomas Tegg and Son, 1836)
- The life and times of John Milton (London: Wakelin, 1836)
- Wesleyana; or a complete system of Wesleyan theology; Selected from the Writings of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M. (New York: T. Mason & G. Lane for the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1840)
- Peerage for the People (London, W. Strange, 1841)
- The Israelites Found in the Anglo-Saxons (London: George Kenning, 1874)