Robert Spearman
Robert Spearman (1703–1761) was an English theologian, known as a Hutchinsonian.
Life
He was the eldest son of Robert Spearman, attorney of Durham, by his wife Hannah, only daughter of William Webster, merchant, of Stockton-on-Tees.[1] He studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, but left without taking a degree.[2] He then lived at Old Acres, Sedgefield.[1]
A pupil of John Hutchinson, Spearman survived him, edited his works, and wrote his life.[1] He was the dedicatee of Two Dissertations concerning the Etymology and Scripture-Meaning of the Hebrew words Elohim and Berith (1751) by Thomas Sharp, with whom he was on good terms.[2]
Spearman died on 20 October 1761, leaving only female issue by his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Sharpe of Hawthorn, County Durham.[1]
Works
Spearman's own writings were:[1]
- An Enquiry after Philosophy and Theology, tending to show when and whence mankind came at the knowledge of these two important points, Edinburgh, 1755; 2nd ed. Dublin, 1757 (a polemic against Newtonian physics);
- Letters to a Friend concerning the Septuagint Translation and the Heathen Mythology, Edinburgh, 1759 (an attempt to derive all mythologies from a primeval revelation).
References
- 1 2 3 4 5
"Spearman, Robert". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. - 1 2 Aston, Nigel. "Spearman, Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26088. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Spearman, Robert". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.