Thomas Rowe (tutor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rowe was an English nonconformist minister, significant as the teacher of the next generation of Dissenters, particularly in philosophy, in one of the first of the dissenting academies
.
, he was born in London in 1657. He was probably educated by Theophilus Gale
. In 1678 he succeeded Gale, both as pastor of the independent church in Holborn
and as tutor in the academy at Newington Green
. He moved his congregation to a meeting-house at Girdlers' Hall, Basinghall Street
, and took his academy successively to Clapham
and, about 1687, to Little Britain
.
His ministry was successful; but it was as a tutor, especially in philosophy, that he made his mark as an early adopter of new ideas. He was the first to desert the traditional textbooks, introducing his pupils, about 1680, to what was known as ‘free philosophy.’ Rowe was a Cartesian
at a time when the Aristotelian philosophy was still dominant in the older schools of learning; but while in physics he adhered to Descartes against the rising influence of Isaac Newton
, he also became one of the earliest exponents of John Locke
. His students included John Evans, D.D., Henry Grove
, Josiah Hort
, John Hughes the poet, Jeremiah Hunt, D.D., Daniel Neal
, and Isaac Watts
.
Rowe was a Calvinist in theology, but few of his pupils adhered to the same system without some modification. In 1699 he became one of the Tuesday lecturers at Pinners' Hall. He died suddenly on 18 August 1705, and was buried with his father in Bunhill Fields
.
, Surrey
, about 1689. He succeeded Stephen Lobb
in 1699 as pastor of the independent church in Fetter Lane
. He died on 30 March 1706, and was burie in Bunhill Fields. He left two sons: Thomas (1687–1715), husband of Elizabeth Rowe
; and Theophilus.
Dissenting academies
The dissenting academies were schools, colleges and nonconformist seminaries run by dissenters. They formed a significant part of England’s educational systems from the mid-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries....
.
Life
The elder son of John RoweJohn Rowe (minister)
John Rowe was an English clergyman, minister to an important Congregationalist church in London.-Life:He was born in Crediton, Devon. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Oxford, where he attended New Inn Hall....
, he was born in London in 1657. He was probably educated by Theophilus Gale
Theophilus Gale
Theophilus Gale was an English educationalist, nonconformist and theologian of dissent.-Early life:Gale was born at Kingsteignton, Devon, the son of Bridget Gale and Theophilus Gale D. D....
. In 1678 he succeeded Gale, both as pastor of the independent church in Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
and as tutor in the academy at Newington Green
Newington Green
Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...
. He moved his congregation to a meeting-house at Girdlers' Hall, Basinghall Street
Basinghall Street
Basinghall Street is a street in the City of London, England. It today lies chiefly in the ward of Bassishaw with the southern end in Cheap and Coleman Street wards...
, and took his academy successively to Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
and, about 1687, to Little Britain
Little Britain, London
Little Britain is a street in the City of London running from St. Martin's Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield in the west. It is the northern boundary of St Bartholomew's Hospital and is situated in the Aldersgate and Farringdon Within wards. Postman's Park is situated by Little...
.
His ministry was successful; but it was as a tutor, especially in philosophy, that he made his mark as an early adopter of new ideas. He was the first to desert the traditional textbooks, introducing his pupils, about 1680, to what was known as ‘free philosophy.’ Rowe was a Cartesian
Cartesianism
Cartesian means of or relating to the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes—from his name—Rene Des-Cartes. It may refer to:*Cartesian anxiety*Cartesian circle*Cartesian dualism...
at a time when the Aristotelian philosophy was still dominant in the older schools of learning; but while in physics he adhered to Descartes against the rising influence of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
, he also became one of the earliest exponents of John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
. His students included John Evans, D.D., Henry Grove
Henry Grove
Henry Grove was an English nonconformist minister, theologian, and dissenting tutor.-Life:He was born at Taunton, Somerset, on 4 January 1684...
, Josiah Hort
Josiah Hort
Josiah Hort , was an English clergyman of the Church of Ireland who ended his career as archbishop of Tuam .Brought up as a Nonconformist, Hort went to school with the hymn writer Isaac Watts, who was his lifelong friend...
, John Hughes the poet, Jeremiah Hunt, D.D., Daniel Neal
Daniel Neal
Daniel Neal was an English historian.Born in London, he was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, and at the universities of Utrecht and Leiden...
, and Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
.
Rowe was a Calvinist in theology, but few of his pupils adhered to the same system without some modification. In 1699 he became one of the Tuesday lecturers at Pinners' Hall. He died suddenly on 18 August 1705, and was buried with his father in Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
.
Family
Benoni Rowe (1658–1706) was his brother-in-law, husband to his sister Sarah. He was born in London, and educated for the ministry. His first known settlement was at EpsomEpsom
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...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, about 1689. He succeeded Stephen Lobb
Stephen Lobb
Stephen Lobb was an English nonconformist minister and controversialist. He was prominent in the 1680s as a court representative of the Independents to James II, and in the 1690s in polemics between the Presbyterian and Independent groups of nonconformists...
in 1699 as pastor of the independent church in Fetter Lane
Fetter Lane
Fetter Lane is a street in the ward of Farringdon Without in London England. It runs from Fleet Street in the south to Holborn in the north.The earliest mention of the street is "faitereslane" in 1312. The name occurs with several spellings until it settles down about 1612. There is no agreement...
. He died on 30 March 1706, and was burie in Bunhill Fields. He left two sons: Thomas (1687–1715), husband of Elizabeth Rowe
Elizabeth Rowe
-Life:She was the eldest daughter of Elizabeth Portnell and Walter Singer, a dissenting minister. Born in Ilchester, Somerset, England, she began writing at the age of twelve and when she was nineteen, began a correspondence with John Dunton, bookseller and founder of the Athenian Society.Between...
; and Theophilus.