Thomas Ellwood
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ellwood was an English
religious writer.
He was born in Oxfordshire
, the son of a rural squire. Educated at Lord Williams's School
, he later joined the Quakers and became a friend of William Penn
and John Milton
. However, he was persecuted for his faith and spent some time in prison. His best-known work, Davideis (1712), is a poem about the life of King David. His autobiography
, The History of the Life of Thomas Ellwood, published posthumously, is a valuable historical document.
He became a Quaker after visiting Isaac Penington
and his family at Chalfont St. Peter in Buckinghamshire. He later lived with the family as a tutor to the children. He married Mary Ellis in 1669 and lived in Coleshill, Buckinghamshire
for the rest of his life. His close friendship with William Penn, George Fox and many leading Quakers made him an influential figure in the Quaker movement. His autobiography has been published almost continually since 1714.
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...
religious writer.
He was born in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, the son of a rural squire. Educated at Lord Williams's School
Lord Williams's School
Lord Williams's School is a co-educational secondary school in Thame, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It is a comprehensive school, which takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18...
, he later joined the Quakers and became a friend of William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
and John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
. However, he was persecuted for his faith and spent some time in prison. His best-known work, Davideis (1712), is a poem about the life of King David. His autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, The History of the Life of Thomas Ellwood, published posthumously, is a valuable historical document.
He became a Quaker after visiting Isaac Penington
Isaac Penington (Quaker)
Isaac Penington was one of the early members of the Religious Society of Friends .Penington was the oldest son of Isaac Penington, a Puritan who had served as the Lord Mayor of London. Penington married a widow named Mary Springett and they had five children. Penington's stepdaughter Gulielma...
and his family at Chalfont St. Peter in Buckinghamshire. He later lived with the family as a tutor to the children. He married Mary Ellis in 1669 and lived in Coleshill, Buckinghamshire
Coleshill, Buckinghamshire
Coleshill is a village and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is near Amersham and just to the north of Beaconsfield....
for the rest of his life. His close friendship with William Penn, George Fox and many leading Quakers made him an influential figure in the Quaker movement. His autobiography has been published almost continually since 1714.