Joseph Fawcett
Encyclopedia
Joseph Fawcett was an 18th-century English Presbyterian
minister and poet.
Fawcett began his education at Reverend French's school in Ware, Hertfordshire
and in 1774 entered the dissenting academy at Daventry
. At the school, he practiced his preaching on thorn bushes. In 1780 Fawcett was called to be the morning preacher at Marsh Street Presbyterian Chapel in Walthamstow
, east of London. His adoption of Unitarianism
led to a schism in the congregation and he resigned in 1787. On 23 September 1782, Fawcett married the daughter of his schoolteacher, Charlotte French.
In 1785 he began a series of Sunday evening lectures at the Old Jewry
meeting house
in the City of London
. This series established Fawcett as one of the most popular Dissenting preachers of the time. He supposedly drew "the largest and most genteel London audience that ever assembled in a dissenting place of worship". He appealed to a broad audience, including Anglicans, actors such as Sarah Siddons
and the Kembles. William Wordsworth
admired his sermons, although he felt that Fawcett was unstable, and modeled the "Solitary" in his poem "The Excursion" after him.
In 1795 Fawcett abandoned his preaching and leased a farm called Edge Grove near Aldenham
, Hertfordshire
. In the late 1790s he published a series of poems opposing Britain's war with France
. These were much lauded; Joseph Priestley
wrote that his The Art of War revealed "a most exuberant imagination . . . some parts are very affecting".
Fawcett associated with other reformers, such as William Godwin
and William Hazlitt
. Godwin and Fawcett met in 1778 at Ware and remained friends for their entire lives. Godwin wrote that he was the most important of the "four principal instructors". Hazlitt wrote "with him I passed some of the pleasantest days of my life. The conversation . . . of taste and philosophy gave me a delight such as I can never feel again . . . he was the person of the most refined and least contracted taste I ever knew".
Fawcett died in 1804 and was buried in Aldenham churchyard.
English Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism in England is distinct from Continental and Scottish forms of Presbyterianism. Whereas in Scotland, church government is based on a meeting of delegates, in England the individual congregation is the primary body of government...
minister and poet.
Fawcett began his education at Reverend French's school in Ware, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
and in 1774 entered the dissenting academy at Daventry
Daventry Academy
Daventry Academy was a dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by English Dissenters. It moved to many locations, but was most associated with Daventry, where its most famous pupil was Joseph Priestley...
. At the school, he practiced his preaching on thorn bushes. In 1780 Fawcett was called to be the morning preacher at Marsh Street Presbyterian Chapel in Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, east of London. His adoption of Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
led to a schism in the congregation and he resigned in 1787. On 23 September 1782, Fawcett married the daughter of his schoolteacher, Charlotte French.
In 1785 he began a series of Sunday evening lectures at the Old Jewry
Old Jewry
Old Jewry is the name of a street in the City of London, in Coleman Street Ward, linking Gresham Street with The Poultry.William the Conqueror encouraged Jews to come to England soon after the Norman Conquest; some settled in cities throughout his new domain, including in London. According to Rev....
meeting house
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. This series established Fawcett as one of the most popular Dissenting preachers of the time. He supposedly drew "the largest and most genteel London audience that ever assembled in a dissenting place of worship". He appealed to a broad audience, including Anglicans, actors such as Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
and the Kembles. William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
admired his sermons, although he felt that Fawcett was unstable, and modeled the "Solitary" in his poem "The Excursion" after him.
In 1795 Fawcett abandoned his preaching and leased a farm called Edge Grove near Aldenham
Aldenham
This article is about the village in Hertfordshire. For the London Transport Bus Overhaul Works, see Aldenham Works.Aldenham is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, approx. three miles north-east of Watford and two miles from Radlett. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and is one of...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. In the late 1790s he published a series of poems opposing Britain's war with France
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. These were much lauded; 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...
wrote that his The Art of War revealed "a most exuberant imagination . . . some parts are very affecting".
Fawcett associated with other reformers, such as William Godwin
William Godwin
William Godwin was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism...
and William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt was an English writer, remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism, and as a grammarian and philosopher. He is now considered one of the great critics and essayists of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. Yet his work is...
. Godwin and Fawcett met in 1778 at Ware and remained friends for their entire lives. Godwin wrote that he was the most important of the "four principal instructors". Hazlitt wrote "with him I passed some of the pleasantest days of my life. The conversation . . . of taste and philosophy gave me a delight such as I can never feel again . . . he was the person of the most refined and least contracted taste I ever knew".
Fawcett died in 1804 and was buried in Aldenham churchyard.