Daniel Williams (theologian)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2013) |
Daniel Copper Williams | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | 1643 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales |
Died | 26 January 1716 |
Religion | Christianity (Presbyterianism) |
Senior posting | |
Based in | Ireland, England and Wales |
Daniel Williams (c. 1643 – 26 January 1716) was a British benefactor, minister and theologian, within the Presbyterian tradition, i.e. a Christian outside the Church of England. He is known largely for the legacy he left which led to the creation of Dr Williams's Library, a centre for research on English Dissenters.
Early ministry
Williams was born in
He ministered in Ireland from 1664 to 1687. This posting was a result of his accepting an invitation from the Countess of Meath to be her chaplain. He was a regular preacher to Drogheda's joint Presbyterian–Independent congregation (1664–67) and then became Samuel Marsden's colleague at the congregation at Wood Street, Dublin (1667–87). He acted as a peacemaker amongst the Scottish Presbyterians, fiercely opposed Catholicism and helped to maintain the Presbyterians' union with the other Dissenting congregations in Ireland, as well as exorcising a house by prayer in 1678 (as recounted by Richard Baxter).
London
On a new outbreak of the Troubles and after being abandoned by
Death and legacy
Williams died in Hoxton, possibly from asthma, and he was buried in a vault at Bunhill Fields. He left almost his whole estate of £50,000 to charity. He left his books (7600 volumes) and money to establish a library, now known as the Dr Williams's Library, situated in Bloomsbury, London. In addition to its theological holdings, it contains collections of philosophy, history, literature, and other donated collections. The library is known to researchers of history and genealogy for its holdings of pre-19th century material relating to Protestant nonconformity in England.
He also left money to aid the foundation of seven charity schools in North Wales, and to provide scholarships to the University of Glasgow for candidates to the ministry in the Nonconformist church.
Marriages and issue
Williams married Thomas Juxon's daughter Elizabeth in Ireland in 1675 - she died in 1698, and they had had no children. By his second wife Jane Guill (daughter of a refugee
Notes and References
- ^ J. Evans, A funeral sermon occasion'd by the much lamented death of the late Reverend Daniel Williams, D.D. who deceas'd January the 26th 1715/6 (1716). 'Some account of the life of Dr Williams', D. Williams, Practical discourses on several important subjects … by the late Reverend Daniel Williams, D.D. Published singly by himself, and now collected by the appointment of his will (1738), p. 43
- Gordon, Alexander (1900). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 61. pp. 385–389.
- Wykes, David L. (October 2009) [2004]. "Williams, Daniel". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29491. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
Further reading
- "Daniel Williams". Welsh Biography Online.
External links
- A history of Presbyterianism in Dublin and the south and west of Ireland, P313
- David L. Wykes, ‘Williams, Daniel (c.1643–1716)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009, accessed 4 Dec 2016
- Alexander Du Toit, ‘Rule, Gilbert (c.1629–1701)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 4 Dec 2016