Benjamin Dawson
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Dawson LL.D. was an English minister, initially Presbyterian but then Anglican, and linguist.
, he was born at Halifax
. In 1746 he and his elder brother Thomas entered the dissenting academy at Kendal
under Caleb Rotheram
, as exhibitioners of the London Presbyterian Board. From Kendal in 1749 they went to Glasgow
, remaining there four years as scholars on Dr. Daniel Williams
's foundation. Benjamin defended a thesis de summo bono, on taking his M.A. degree.
In 1754 Dawson succeeded Gaskell as presbyterian minister at Leek, Staffordshire
, but soon moved to Congleton
, Cheshire
, probably to assist in the school of Edward Harwood
. Shortly afterwards he followed his brother Thomas to London, and in 1757 was assistant to Henry Read, Presbyterian minister at St. Thomas's, Southwark
. Thomas conformed to the Church of England
in 1758, and Benjamin followed his example.
In 1760 he was instituted to the rectory of Burgh
, near Woodbridge, Suffolk
, which he then held for 54 years. He still kept up relations with dissenters. In 1763, being now LL.D., he accompanied a young Yorkshire baronet, Sir James Ibbetson of Leeds, to Warrington Academy
as his private tutor, and joined the literary coterie of which John Aiken
was the head. He supported the Feathers' petition (1771–2) for relaxation of the conditions of subscription to the 39 Articles.
In later life Dawson turned his attention to English philology, issuing in 1806 a "prolepsis" of a new English dictionary, and a specimen of the dictionary itself. He died at Burgh on 15 June 1814, aged 85, and was buried in his chancel on 21 June. His wife, Mary, died on 22 June 1803, aged 80. A ground slab in the chancel had inscriptions to their memories.
writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
considers that Dawson's conformity was a protest against the Arianism
in fashion with the liberal Presbyterians of his time; and notes that Dawson's argument is stronger against Arianism than Socinianism
. He was a pamphleteer in defence of Francis Blackburne
's Confessional. In 1764 he followed Edward Law
in reducing the intermediate state to the sleep of the soul, and in 1783 he wrote strongly in refutation of the moral objections to the doctrine of necessity, against the language of the Articles. Personally he was not on good terms with Joseph Priestley
, but Gordon sees Dawson as tending to the Priestley school in theology.
Life
The sixth son of Eli Dawson, Presbyterian minister, and brother of the scholar Abraham DawsonAbraham Dawson
Reverend Abraham Dawson was an Anglican Minister, born in Killyman, Co. Tyrone, on 29 July 1816 and died on 12 May 1884 in Plevna, Ontario. He was based in a variety of locations throughout Ireland, including Knockmanaul, Turin, Athlone, Manorhamilton, Sligo, Strabane and Newtownstewart, before...
, he was born at Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
. In 1746 he and his elder brother Thomas entered the dissenting academy at Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
under Caleb Rotheram
Caleb Rotheram
-Life:He was born on 7 March 1694 at Great Salkeld, Cumberland. He was educated at the grammar school of Great Blencow, Cumberland, under Anthony Ireland, and prepared for the Presbyterian ministry in the academy of Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven...
, as exhibitioners of the London Presbyterian Board. From Kendal in 1749 they went to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, remaining there four years as scholars on Dr. Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams
Sir Daniel Charles Williams, GCMG was a Governor-General of Grenada, from August 8, 1996 until November 18, 2008. He was formally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on August 9, 1996 after having been nominated by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.In 1997, he was Knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth...
's foundation. Benjamin defended a thesis de summo bono, on taking his M.A. degree.
In 1754 Dawson succeeded Gaskell as presbyterian minister at Leek, Staffordshire
Leek, Staffordshire
Leek is a market town in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. It is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214.It is the administrative centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council...
, but soon moved to 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...
, probably to assist in the school of 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...
. Shortly afterwards he followed his brother Thomas to London, and in 1757 was assistant to Henry Read, Presbyterian minister at St. Thomas's, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. Thomas conformed to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in 1758, and Benjamin followed his example.
In 1760 he was instituted to the rectory of Burgh
Burgh, Suffolk
Burgh is a village and civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal district of Suffolk, England, about north-west of Woodbridge.St. Boltoph's church stands near the site of a Roman villa that stretches towards Clopton churchyard...
, near Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
, which he then held for 54 years. He still kept up relations with dissenters. In 1763, being now LL.D., he accompanied a young Yorkshire baronet, Sir James Ibbetson of Leeds, to 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...
as his private tutor, and joined the literary coterie of which John Aiken
John Aikin (Unitarian)
John Aikin was an English Unitarian scholar and theological tutor, closely associated with Warrington Academy, a prominent dissenting academy.-Life:...
was the head. He supported the Feathers' petition (1771–2) for relaxation of the conditions of subscription to the 39 Articles.
In later life Dawson turned his attention to English philology, issuing in 1806 a "prolepsis" of a new English dictionary, and a specimen of the dictionary itself. He died at Burgh on 15 June 1814, aged 85, and was buried in his chancel on 21 June. His wife, Mary, died on 22 June 1803, aged 80. A ground slab in the chancel had inscriptions to their memories.
Views
In 1764 he was Lady Moyer's lecturer, and defended the doctrine of the Trinity in a novel way. Alexander GordonAlexander Gordon (Unitarian)
Alexander Gordon was an English Unitarian minister and religious historian. A prolific contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography, he wrote for it well over seven hundred articles dealing mainly with nonconformists....
writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
considers that Dawson's conformity was a protest against the Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
in fashion with the liberal Presbyterians of his time; and notes that Dawson's argument is stronger against Arianism than Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
. He was a pamphleteer in defence of Francis Blackburne
Francis Blackburne
Francis Blackburne PC KS was an Irish judge and eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland.-Background:...
's Confessional. In 1764 he followed Edward Law
Edward Law
Edward Law may refer to one of two Barons Ellenborough:* Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough * Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough , son of the above...
in reducing the intermediate state to the sleep of the soul, and in 1783 he wrote strongly in refutation of the moral objections to the doctrine of necessity, against the language of the Articles. Personally he was not on good terms with 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...
, but Gordon sees Dawson as tending to the Priestley school in theology.
Works
Dawson issued at least eighteen publications, including:- ‘Some Assistance offered to Parents with respect to the Religious Education of their Children,’ 1759.
- ‘An Illustration of several Texts of Scripture, particularly those in which the Logos occurs,’ &c., 1765, (substance of Lady Moyer's lecture, 1764–1765).
- Seven separate pamphlets, 1766–1769, in defence of the ‘Confessional,’ against Thomas RutherforthThomas RutherforthThomas Rutherforth was an English churchman and academic, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge from 1745, and Archdeacon of Essex from 1752.-Life:...
, John Rotheram, Gloster Ridley, 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,...
, et al. - Three separate pamphlets, 1771–3, in support of the Feathers' petition, including ‘Free Thoughts on the subject of a farther Reformation of the Church of England,’ 1771.
- ‘The Necessitarian, or the Question concerning Liberty and Necessity stated, in XIX Letters,’ 1783.
- Three separate sermons, Ipswich, 1780–95.
- ‘Prolepsis Philologiæ Anglicanæ,’ &c., Ipswich.
- ‘Philologia Anglicana; or a Philological and Synonymical Dictionary of the English Language,’ &c., Ipswich, 1806, pt. i. (all that was published; includes A– Adornment). The British Museum Catalogue ascribed to him a pamphlet against necessity which belongs to John Dawson (1734–1820).