Jackson, John

Jackson, John an English Arian divine and great Hebraist of the last century, was born at Lensey, in Yorkshire, in 1686. He studied at Doncaster School and at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he took his bachelor's degree, but could not obtain that of master of arts on account of his Arian principles. In 1712 the corporation of Doncaster presented him with the rectory of Rossington, but the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster having made him confrater of Wigston's Hospital, in Leicester a position which required no subscription of him, he removed to the hospital, and in 1729 succeeded to its mastership. He died in 1763. Jackson carried on a lively controversy with several of England's most distinguished orthodox writers of divinity, more especially with bishop Warburton (Mq.5.). He also wrote a large number of works, the principal of which are, The Duty of a Christian set forth and explained in several practical Discourses, being said Expositior of the Lord's Prayer, etc. (Lond. 1728, 12mo): — The Existence and Unity of God proved from his Nature and Attributes, being a Vindication of Dr. Clarke's Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, etc. (London, 1734, 8vo): — The Belief of a future State proved to be a fundamental Article of the Religion of the Hebrews, and held by the Philosophers, etc. (Lond, 1745, 8vo): — Chronological Antiquities, etc. for the Space of five thousand Years (Lond. 1752, 3 vols. 4to), and many other controversial pamphlets. See Dr. Sutton, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of J. J., etc. (Lond. 1764, 8vo); Chalmers, Genesis Biog. Dictionary, s.v.; Hook, Eccles. Biog. s.v.'; Hoefer, Nouv. Bio,. Géneralé, 25, 149; Allibone, Dict. of Authors, s.v.; Gorton. Biog. Dict. s.v.