James Yates (minister) facts for kids

James Yates (born April 30, 1789 – died May 7, 1871) was an English Unitarian minister and a very smart scholar. He was also known as an antiquary, which means he studied old objects and history.

About James Yates's Life

James Yates was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool. He was the fourth son of John Yates, who was also a well-known minister. James had several brothers, including Joseph Brooks Yates and Richard Vaughan Yates. Richard gave Prince's Park to the people of Liverpool. Another brother, John Ashton Yates, became a Member of Parliament.

His Education and Early Career

James Yates started his education with William Shepherd. In 1805, he went to Glasgow University. Later, he studied to become a minister at Manchester College in York. While still a student, he helped teach classical subjects. He also attended Edinburgh University.

In 1812, James became a minister for a Unitarian church in Glasgow. He helped bring different groups together to form a strong church. He also helped start the Scottish Unitarian Association in 1813.

Moving Around and New Interests

In 1817, James moved to Birmingham to be a minister at a new church. He stayed there until 1825. After that, he took a break from being a minister and lived near Sheffield. In 1827, he even studied classical languages in Berlin for a semester.

James Yates was very interested in many different subjects. He became a member of important groups like the Geological Society (1819), the Linnean Society (1822), and the Royal Society (1831). These groups are for people who are experts in geology (rocks and earth), plants and animals, and science. In 1831, he also became a secretary for the British Association, which promotes science.

He later became a minister again in London in 1832. However, he resigned the next year. He then focused on other important work, like helping with Dr. Williams's trust. This trust helped students get scholarships through competitive exams.

Later Years and Legacy

In his later years, James Yates lived at Lauderdale House in Highgate. He had a large library and a collection of art there. He was one of the first people to see how important an old book called Sketches at Carnac was for studying history. He made sure it was kept safe in the Royal Archaeological Institute. He also helped study an important fossil called Cycadeoidea gibsoniana.

James Yates passed away at Lauderdale House on May 7, 1871. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery. He was married to Dorothea Crompton, but they did not have children. In his will, he left money to help fund teaching positions at University College, London.

James Yates's Writings and Contributions

James Yates wrote many important papers and books. He was known for defending Unitarian beliefs.

Defending Unitarianism

In 1815, he published Vindication of Unitarianism. This book was his response to another minister's criticisms of Unitarianism. He wanted to show that Unitarians, including both Arians and Socinians, could agree on common ideas.

He also wrote a letter in 1834 to defend a Unitarian version of the New Testament. This version had been criticized by a judge.

Contributions to Scholarship

James Yates was a major contributor to the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, which was published in 1842. He drew many of the pictures for the book and wrote a lot of the text. He also started a book called Textrinum Antiquorum about ancient textiles, but only the first part was published.

He wrote many articles for different learned societies in London and Liverpool. These articles were about historical and archaeological topics. Some of his papers were about:

• The meaning of terms like "Acanthus" (1845)
• A Roman burial site (1849)
• The use of bronze tools (1849)
• The Bulla, a charm worn by Roman boys (1851)
• An old map from "Ptolemy's Geography" (1864)

Advocacy for the Decimal System

James Yates strongly believed that the world should use the decimal system for measurements. He wrote many short books and papers about this topic. Some of his works on the decimal system include:

• Narrative of the … Formation of the International Association for … a Uniform Decimal System (1856)
• What is the Best Unit of Length (1858)
• Handbook to … Synoptic Table … of the Metric System (1864)

Other Publications

He also wrote about:

• Ideas for improving university education (1826)
• Plans for the University of London (1832)
• Ideas for registering births, deaths, and marriages (1836)
• Prayers from the Roman Catholic Church translated into English, German, and Polish (1838)
• A catalog of portraits and items belonging to Dr. Priestley, which included his own collection (1860). His widow later gave this collection to the Royal Society.
• A catalog of coins from different countries shown at an exhibition (1862).

After his death, a handwritten book he created with 186 biographies of students at Glasgow University was given to Dr. Williams's Library by his widow.

Images for kids

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  Grave of James Yates in Highgate Cemetery