Thomas Belsham

Thomas Belsham (1750-1829) studied for the ministry at the Independent Academy at Daventry. After his graduation, he remained for the next seven years as an assistant tutor before beginning his pastoral career at Worcester. He returned to Daventry three years later to become Headmaster of the Academy. He remained there until 1789, when he resigned to become a Unitarian minister. He assisted Joseph Priestley in the formation of a Unitarian college at Hackney, and then, after Priestley’s emigration to America in 1794, became pastor of the Unitarian congregation at Gravel-Pit in Hackney. In 1805 he succeeded John Disney at Essex Street (Unitarian) Chapel, London, where he remained until his death in 1829. His first work, Review of Mr. Wilberforce’s Treatise Entitled Practical View (1798), created considerable controversy. His most popular work was A Summary View of the Evidence and Practical Importance of the Christian Revelation (1807). He was a frequent contributor to the Quarterly Review, Gentleman’s Magazine, and the Monthly Repository.