Blackburn, John

Blackburn, John an English Congregational minister, was born in London in 1792. Quite early he had a strong desire to become a Baptist minister, and for that purpose entered Stepney College; but, his views undergoing a change, he retired from that institution and became a student at Hoxton Academy. He entered the service of the Irish Evangelical Society, and for a time labored in Ireland to disseminate Protestant and evangelical truth. He then returned to England, and preached with acceptance at Finchingfield, Essex; became chosen pastor of that Church, and settled there in 1815 — where his labors were very successful. In 1823 he became pastor at Clarcmont Chapel, London. He died June 16, 1855. One, speaking of his success, here remarks, "His efforts were crowned with remarkable success. both in the numbers, and devotedness, piety and liberality of his flock." He was a prominent man in the efforts to benefit his race. He was one of the projectors and secretaries of the Congregational Union of England and Wales; also editor of the Cong. Magazine and Cong. Calendar, afterwards the Cong. Year-book. He published, The Spiritual Claims of the Metropolis: — a volume of Lectures on Layard's Discoveries at Nineveh: — The Biblical Educator. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1856, p. 208- 210.