Middleton, Erasmus

Middleton, Erasmus a noted English divine, was born about 1740. He received his education at St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, but was expelled from that university, together with five other youths, on account of his sympathy with the Methodists. This circumstance gave rise to MacGowan's satire of The Shaver. Middleton then entered King's College, Cambridge, and, after his graduation, became pastor of an Episcopal congregation at Dalkeith,' Scotland, and curate successively to Romaine and Cadogan, and at St. Margaret's, Westminster. He was presented to the rectory of Turvey, Bedfordshire, in 1764, and was thus a predecessor of Leigh Richmond (q.v.). He died April 25. 1805. Dr. Middleton was a man of warm piety, and of a Catholic spirit. He is the well-known author of Biographia Evangelica, or an historical Account of the Lives and Deaths of the most eminent evangelical Authors or Preachers, both British and Foreign, in the several Denominations of Protestants (1779, 4 volumes, 8vo). This great biographical work is a collection of invaluable materials, and must immortalize his memory, while doing immense good. Of his other works we mention: Archbishop Leighton's whole Works, with Life (1805,4 volumes): — Versions and Initiations of the Psalms of David (1806): — Luther's Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, with his Life (1807). See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, 2:1275; Cooper, Biog. Dict. of Eminent Persons, page 865.