Robert Wallace (Unitarian)
Encyclopedia
Robert Wallace was an English Unitarian
minister, now best known for his Antitrinitarian Biography (1850).
, Worcestershire
, on 26 February 1791. In 1808 he came under the influence of James Hews Bransby
, who prepared him for entrance (September 1810) at Manchester College
, then at York
, under Charles Wellbeloved
and John Kenrick
. One of his fellow students was Jacob Brettell
.
Leaving York in 1815, he became minister at Elder Yard, Chesterfield
. While here he conducted a private school for sixteen years. He wrote in the Monthly Repository and the Christian Reformer on biblical and patristic topics. His review (1834) of John Henry Newman's Arians of the Fourth Century brought him into correspondence with Thomas Turton
.
In 1840 Manchester College was moved from York to Manchester
, and Wallace was appointed to succeed Wellbeloved. He delivered in October his inaugural lecture as professor of critical and exegetical theology. In 1842 he was made principal of the theological department. His theological position was conservative, but he was the first in his denomination to bring to his classroom the processes and results of German critical research. Among his pupils was Philip Pearsall Carpenter.
After six years he resigned, and in June 1846 became minister of Trim Street Chapel, Bath. He was made visitor of his college, and became a fellow of the Geological Society. He preached for the last time on 10 March 1850, and died at Bath on 13 May. He was buried in the graveyard at Lyncomb, near Bath.
(1777–1864), but he deploys a careful array of authorities. He covers more ground than previous writers giving lives and biographies, continental and English, extending from the Protestant Reformation
to the early eighteenth century. His introduction deals mainly with the development of opinion in England over that period.
A major source was the Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum
of Christopher Sandius
.
farmer. Two younger brothers joined the Unitarian ministry, viz.: James Cowden Wallace (1793?-1841), Unitarian minister at Totnes
(1824-6), York Street, London (1827-8), Brighton
(1828-9), Preston (1829–31), Wareham
(1831–41), who wrote numerous hymns, sixty-four of which are in J. R. Beard's Collection of Hymns, 1837, 12mo; and Charles Wallace (1796–1859), who was educated at Glasgow (M.A. 1817) and Manchester College, York (1817–19), and was minister at Altrincham
and Hale
, Cheshire (1829–56).
He married (1825) Sophia (d. 31 May 1835), daughter of Michael Lakin of Birmingham
, by whom he had a daughter, who survived him.
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....
minister, now best known for his Antitrinitarian Biography (1850).
Life
He was born at DudleyDudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, on 26 February 1791. In 1808 he came under the influence of James Hews Bransby
James Hews Bransby
James Hews Bransby , was a Unitarian minister.Bransby was a native of Ipswich. His father, John Bransby , was an instrument maker, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, author of a treatise on 'The Use of the Globes, &c.,' 1791, 8vo, and editor of the 'Ipswich Magazine,' 1799.The son became...
, who prepared him for entrance (September 1810) at Manchester College
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
, then at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, under Charles Wellbeloved
Charles Wellbeloved
Charles Wellbeloved was a unitarian divine and archaeologist.-Life:Charles Wellbeloved, only child of John Wellbeloved , by his wife Elizabeth , was born in Denmark Street, St Giles, London, on 6 April 1769, and baptised on 25 April at St. Giles-in-the-Fields...
and John Kenrick
John Kenrick
John Kenrick was an English classical historian.-Life:He was born on 4 February 1788 at Exeter, the eldest son of Timothy Kenrick, Unitarian minister, and his first wife, Mary, daughter of John Waymouth of Exeter. He was educated at the local grammar school run by the Rev. Charles Lloyd and later...
. One of his fellow students was Jacob Brettell
Jacob Brettell
Jacob Brettell was an English Unitarian minister.-Life:Brettell was born at Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 16 April 1793...
.
Leaving York in 1815, he became minister at Elder Yard, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
. While here he conducted a private school for sixteen years. He wrote in the Monthly Repository and the Christian Reformer on biblical and patristic topics. His review (1834) of John Henry Newman's Arians of the Fourth Century brought him into correspondence with Thomas Turton
Thomas Turton
Thomas Turton, DD was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He was Dean of Peterborough, Bishop of Ely and composer of Anglican hymns....
.
In 1840 Manchester College was moved from York to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and Wallace was appointed to succeed Wellbeloved. He delivered in October his inaugural lecture as professor of critical and exegetical theology. In 1842 he was made principal of the theological department. His theological position was conservative, but he was the first in his denomination to bring to his classroom the processes and results of German critical research. Among his pupils was Philip Pearsall Carpenter.
After six years he resigned, and in June 1846 became minister of Trim Street Chapel, Bath. He was made visitor of his college, and became a fellow of the Geological Society. He preached for the last time on 10 March 1850, and died at Bath on 13 May. He was buried in the graveyard at Lyncomb, near Bath.
The Antitrinitarian Biography
His Antitrinitarian Biography, (1850, 3 vols.) was the result of nearly 24 years' research. In breadth of treatment and in depth of original research Wallace's work is inferior to that of Thomas ReesThomas Rees
Thomas Rees may refer to:* Thomas Ifor Rees , Welsh diplomat and translator* Thomas M. Rees , a U.S. Representative from California* Thomas Rees , Welsh Congregationalist minister...
(1777–1864), but he deploys a careful array of authorities. He covers more ground than previous writers giving lives and biographies, continental and English, extending from the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
to the early eighteenth century. His introduction deals mainly with the development of opinion in England over that period.
A major source was the Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum
Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum
The Bibliotheca antitrinitariorum, or Antitrinitarian Library, first published in 1684, is a posthumous work of Christopher Sandius , an exiled Prussian Antitrinitarian in Amsterdam, in which he chronologically lists all the Arian and Socinian or Antitrinitarian authors from the Reformation to...
of Christopher Sandius
Christopher Sandius
Christopher Sandius Jr. was an Arian writer and publisher of Socinian works without himself being a Socinian....
.
Family
He was the son of Robert Wallace (d. 17 June 1830) by his wife Phoebe (d.11 March 1837), His father was a pawnbroker; his grandfather was a DumfriesshireDumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
farmer. Two younger brothers joined the Unitarian ministry, viz.: James Cowden Wallace (1793?-1841), Unitarian minister at Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
(1824-6), York Street, London (1827-8), Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
(1828-9), Preston (1829–31), Wareham
Wareham, Dorset
Wareham is an historic market town and, under the name Wareham Town, a civil parish, in the English county of Dorset. The town is situated on the River Frome eight miles southwest of Poole.-Situation and geography:...
(1831–41), who wrote numerous hymns, sixty-four of which are in J. R. Beard's Collection of Hymns, 1837, 12mo; and Charles Wallace (1796–1859), who was educated at Glasgow (M.A. 1817) and Manchester College, York (1817–19), and was minister at Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
and Hale
Hale, Greater Manchester
Hale is a village and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It is contiguous with the southeast of Altrincham, approximately southwest of the city of Manchester....
, Cheshire (1829–56).
He married (1825) Sophia (d. 31 May 1835), daughter of Michael Lakin of 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...
, by whom he had a daughter, who survived him.