Martin Madan
Encyclopedia
Martin Madan was an English
barrister, clergyman and writer, known for controversial views on marriage
expressed in his book Thelyphthora.
the poet, and Colonel Martin Madan
, and was educated at Westminster School
, and at Christ Church, Oxford
, where he graduated in 1746. In 1748 he was called to the bar
, and for some time lived a very uninhibited life. He was persuaded to change his ways on hearing a sermon by John Wesley
. He took holy orders, and was appointed chaplain to the London Lock Hospital
. He was closely connected with the Calvinistic Methodist
movement supported by the Countess of Huntingdon, and from time to time acted as an itinerant preacher. He was a first cousin of the poet William Cowper
, with whom he had some correspondence on religious matters.
In 1767 much adverse comment was aroused by his support of his friend Thomas Haweis
in a controversy arising out of the latter's possession of the living of Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire
. Madan resigned his chaplainship and retired to Epsom
.
as the remedy for evils he deplored. His arguments were based mainly on scriptural authority; but his book caused many angry replies. Nineteen attacks on it are catalogued by Falconer Madan
in the Dictionary of National Biography
.
Among other works was A New and Literal Translation of Juvenal and Persius (1789).
Attribution
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
barrister, clergyman and writer, known for controversial views on marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
expressed in his book Thelyphthora.
Life
He was the son of Judith MadanJudith Madan
Judith Madan was an English poet. She was the grand daughter of Lady Sarah Cowper , the diarist....
the poet, and Colonel Martin Madan
Martin Madan (MP)
Colonel Martin Madan was groom of the bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and MP forWootton Basset from 1742 to 1747. Madan also served as a colonel in the Dragoon Guards.-Family:...
, and was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, and at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he graduated in 1746. In 1748 he was called to the bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and for some time lived a very uninhibited life. He was persuaded to change his ways on hearing a sermon by John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. He took holy orders, and was appointed chaplain to the London Lock Hospital
London Lock Hospital
The London Lock Hospital was the first venereal disease clinic, being the most famous and first of the Lock Hospitals, which opened on 31 January 1747....
. He was closely connected with the Calvinistic Methodist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
movement supported by the Countess of Huntingdon, and from time to time acted as an itinerant preacher. He was a first cousin of the poet William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
, with whom he had some correspondence on religious matters.
In 1767 much adverse comment was aroused by his support of his friend Thomas Haweis
Thomas Haweis
Thomas Haweis was born in Redruth, Cornwall, on 1 January 1734, where he was baptised on 20 February 1734...
in a controversy arising out of the latter's possession of the living of Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. Madan resigned his chaplainship and retired to Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
.
Works
In 1780 Madan raised a storm of opposition by the publication of his Thelyphthora, or A Treatise on Female Ruin, in which he advocated polygamyPolygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
as the remedy for evils he deplored. His arguments were based mainly on scriptural authority; but his book caused many angry replies. Nineteen attacks on it are catalogued by Falconer Madan
Falconer Madan
Falconer Madan was Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University...
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...
.
Among other works was A New and Literal Translation of Juvenal and Persius (1789).
External links
Attribution