Benjamin Avery facts for kids

Benjamin Avery was an English doctor who lived a long time ago, in the 1700s. He was also a very important person in his community, known for his work with hospitals and for helping to protect the rights of certain religious groups.

Benjamin Avery's Life

Benjamin Avery started his career as a Presbyterian minister in London. However, in 1720, he decided to leave the ministry. This happened after a big discussion among religious leaders about beliefs.

Becoming a Doctor

After leaving the ministry, Avery became a doctor. He was also the Treasurer of Guy's Hospital, which is a famous hospital in London. This meant he managed the hospital's money.

Helping Others

Even though he was no longer a minister, Benjamin Avery remained a trusted leader among his Presbyterian friends. For 27 years, he worked as a secretary for a group called the Deputies of the Three Denominations of Dissenters. This group helped protect the rights of different Protestant religious groups and solved their problems.

He was also a trustee for Dr. Williams's Library from 1728 until he died. A trustee helps manage and look after an organization. You can even see his portrait hanging in the library today! Benjamin Avery passed away on July 23, 1764.

Benjamin Avery's Writings

Benjamin Avery was also a writer and shared his ideas about politics and religion. He wrote for a collection of papers called the Occasional Papers, which were published between 1716 and 1719. These papers showed his ideas about freedom and new ways of thinking.

Leading a Newspaper

He also led a weekly newspaper called the Old Whig, or Consistent Protestant. This paper was published every week from March 1735 to March 1738. He worked with several other important writers on this newspaper, including George Benson and Samuel Chandler.

Editing Other Works

In 1728, Avery helped publish the sermons and a book called Scripture Catechism by James Peirce, after Peirce had passed away. He might have even written the special Latin message for Peirce's tombstone.