Wesley, Samuel (2), Am

Wesley, Samuel (2), A.M.

an English clergyman, son of the Rev. Samuel and Susannah Wesley, was born in London, Feb. 10, 1690. His mother taught him to read at the age of five years, and laid the foundation of the scholarship which he afterwards acquired. He was sent to Westminster School in 1704, and was admitted king's scholar there in 1707. He was employed for a time in the house of Dr. Sprat, bishop of Rochester, to read to him at night and in 1711 was elected to Christ Church, Oxford. He remained there a little more than one year, when he received the degree of A.M., and entered into holy orders. He officiated as usher in Westminster School for the next twenty years. Here he became familiar with lord Oxford, Pope, Swift, Prior, and other Tory poets and statesmen, though he associated with Addison and others of his class. In 1732 he became head-master of Bluidell's free Grammar- school at Tiverton, where he remained till his death, Nov. 6, 1739: He was one of the founders of the first infirmary set up at Westminster, now St. George's Hospital. He belonged to the High-Church party, and did not co- operate with John and Charles in their "Methodist" labors; but he often encouraged them in their zeal for good works, only cautioning them against such excess as would injure their health. He is represented as an excellent preacher, and often exercised his talents in that direction. Like other members of the family, he was highly gifted in poetry. The first edition of his poems was published in 1736; a second, with additions, appeared in 1743. A new edition was published, with a life of the author, by William Nichols, in 1862. He is best known, however, by his hymns. See Stevenson, Memorials of the Wesley Family.