Beaumont, Joseph, Md

Beaumont, Joseph, M.D.

one of the most eminent preachers in the Methodist Church of England, was the son of the Rev. John Beaumont, and was born at Castle Donington, March 19, 1794. He received his education at Kingswood school, and was there converted to God. After some years spent in the study of medicine, he determined to enter the ministry; and though his way would have been opened into the Established Church by the kindness of friends, he preferred to remain with the Wesleyan Methodists, and was received on trial by the Conference of 1813. He was soon recognised as a preacher of more than common promise. An impediment in his speech appeared likely to hinder his success, but by great resolution he surmounted it, and became a fluent and effective speaker. His preaching was characterized by brilliancy of illustration, by repeated bursts of impassioned eloquence, and an earnestness of manner and delivery often amounting to impetuosity. For many years he was one of the most popular pulpit and platform speakers in Great Britain. His last appointment was Hull, where he died suddenly in the pulpit, January 21, 1855. A number of his occasional sermons and speeches are published; a specimen of them will be found in the English Pulpit, 1849, p. 123. His Life, written by his son, appeared in 1856. — Wesleyan Minutes (Loud. 1855); London Rev. July, 1856, p. 564.