Richard Watson | |
|---|---|
 Richard Watson | |
| President of the Methodist Conference | |
| In office 1826–1827 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Entwisle |
| Succeeded by | John Stephens |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 February 1781 Lincolnshire |
| Died | 8 Jan 1833 (1833-01-09) (aged 51) |
| Occupation | Methodist theologian |
Richard Watson (1781–1833) was a BritishMethodist theologian, a leading figure ofWesleyan Methodism in the early 19th century.
Watson was born on 22 February 1781, atBarton-upon-Humber, inLincolnshire. He was the seventh of eighteen children of Thomas and Ann Watson. His father, asaddler, heldCalvinist views, and Richard was brought up in theCountess of Huntingdon's Connexion. Reacting against those teachings, he attended a Wesleyan chapel as a boy, and was received there in 1794.[1]
In 1791, Watson enteredLincoln Grammar School. In 1795 he was apprenticed to a joiner at Lincoln.[2]
In 1796, Watson preached his first sermon, and moved toNewark-on-Trent as assistant to Thomas Cooper, as aWesleyan preacher. In 1796, he entered the Methodist itinerancy, and was received into full connection as a travelling minister in 1801. Meanwhile, he was stationed atAshby-de-la-Zouch,Castle Donington, andDerby.[2]
In 1801, Watson married Mary Henslow of Castle Donington, daughter of aMethodist New Connexion preacher there.[1] They had two children. In 1803, he withdrew from the Wesleyans, and joined the New Connexion, resenting an unfounded charge ofArianism. In 1805, he became assistant secretary of the New Connexion's conference, and in 1807 he was fully admitted to its ministry and was appointed secretary. He was first stationed atStockport, then from 1806 atLiverpool, where he engaged in literary work for Thomas Kaye.[2]
In 1807, Watson resigned his ministry. In 1808 he was engaged as editor of theLiverpool Courier by Kaye. In 1812 he then returned to the Wesleyan Connexion, and was reinstated in his former position. In 1812, he was stationed atWakefield, and atHull from 1814 to 1816.[3]
In 1813, Watson drew up a plan of a general missionary society, which was accepted by theconference. In 1810 he was removed toLondon, and made one of the two general secretaries to theWesleyan Missionary Society from 1821 to 1827. After holding an appointment atManchester, from 1827 to 29, he returned to London. He was again appointed a resident secretary to the missionary society from 1832 to 1833.[3]
Watson died in London on 8 January 1833. He was buried in the graveyard behindCity Road Chapel, London.[3]
Watson was a strong Methodist, but constantly wrote of theAnglican communion as "the mother of us all". He was deeply attached to the Anglican prayer-book, and was anxious to keep Methodism in friendly relations with the establishment.[3]
Watson was a gifted writer and theologian. In doctrine, is known to be "an orthodoxTrinitarian and anEvangelicalArminian".[4]
In 1818 he wrote a reply toAdam Clarke's doctrine of the eternal Sonship of Christ; Watson believed that Clarke's views were unorthodox and, therefore, not faithfully Wesleyan.[3]
From 1823 to 1829 he worked on hisTheological Institutes,[5] which remained asystematic theology standard for many years and deservedly ranks among the ablest expositions of theArminian system.[6] It was the first attempt to systematizeJohn Wesley's theology and, by extension,Methodist doctrine.[3]
HisBiblical and Theological Dictionary (1831)[7] is more comprehensive than previous attempts in English. In 1831, he wrote also a well-regardedLife of Rev. John Wesley.[8][3]
In Britain, Watson was a leadingopponent of slavery. He was not, however, for immediate emancipation.[3]
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