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Milner, Isaac (1), D.D.

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Milner, Isaac (2)

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Milner, Isaac (1), D.D.

an Anglican divine of note, eminent for his piety as well as for his great attainments in divinity and the sciences, was born of humble parentage near Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1751. As a boy of six he entered the grammar school of his native place, but the straitened circumstances of his family obliged the removal of Isaac, and he was transferred from the schoolroom to the factory. Though apprenticed to a weaver, he continued to devote his leisure hours to study, and gradually acquired sound learning. His brother, the noted Joseph Milner (q.v.), who had enjoyed many educational advantages, was in 1767 appointed head-master of the grammar school at Hull. By him Isaac was relieved of his obligation at the factory, and afforded opportunity to continue his studies in the position of assistant to Joseph. In 1770 Isaac was admitted a student at Queen's College, Cambridge, and there received his degree in 1774, and was appointed tutor. He received among his pupils Mr. Pitt and Mr. Wilberforce, with whom he travelled abroad, and became the honored instrument in the conversion of the latter. (See WILBERFORCE).

In 1775 Isaac Mihber was elected fellow of Queen's College. In 1783, returning to. the university, he was chosen professor of natural philosophy, and master of his college in 1788, when he proceeded doctor in divinity. In 1791 he was appointed to the deanery of Carlisle. He was elected vice-chancellor of the university in 1792, and six years afterwards became Lucasian professor of mathematics. He died at the house of Wilberforce, at Kensington Gore, April 1,1820. Dean Milner wrote, besides several papers in the Philosophical Transactions, and the continuation of his brother's Church History, the following works: Animadversions on Dr. Haweis's Impartial History of the Church of Christ (1800, 8vo): — Strictures on some of the Publications of the Rev. Herbert Marsh, intended as a Reply to some of his Objections against the Bible Society (1813, 8vo): — Essays on Human Liberty; Sermons (2 volumes, 8vo); besides works of a mathematical kind. " Dean Milner was possessed of very extensive and accurate learning, which he always had at his command. He had great talents for conversation, and a dignified simplicity of manner. His religious and political principles agreed pretty closely with his brother's." See Meth. Qu. Rev. 1840 (July), page 407; Jones, Christ. Biog. s.v.; English Cyclop. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Mary Milne, Life of Isaac Milner (1842).