John Jebb (reformer) facts for kids
John Jebb (1736–1786) was an important English person. He was a religious leader, a medical doctor, and a strong supporter of changes in religion and politics. He wanted things to be fair and modern in his time.
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John Jebb's Early Life and Education
John Jebb was born in 1736. His father, also named John Jebb, was a church leader in Ireland. The Jebb family was well-known. They originally came from Mansfield in England. John's mother was Anne Gansel. Her brother was Lieutenant General William Gansel.
John Jebb went to Peterhouse, Cambridge, for his education. He was a very smart student. In 1757, he achieved a high honor called "Second Wrangler." This meant he was the second-best math student in his year at Cambridge University. In 1761, he became a fellow at Peterhouse. This was a special position at the university.
Changes in His Career and Beliefs
John Jebb was a person who thought for himself. He and his wife, Ann, strongly supported a movement in 1771. This movement wanted to change how people joined the church or university. They believed people should not have to sign a statement agreeing to the "Thirty-nine Articles." These were a set of religious rules for the Church of England.
Jebb had some different ideas about religion. Because of his independent views, he decided to leave his church jobs in 1775. Two years later, he earned a medical degree from St Andrews University. He then started working as a doctor in London. In 1779, he became a fellow of the Royal Society. This is a famous group for scientists.
John and Ann Jebb did not stop working for change. They continued to be very involved in political reform. They wanted to make society better for everyone.
John Jebb's Political Ideas
John Jebb was a big supporter of the American Revolution. He believed the American colonies should be free. He also helped start a group called the Society for Constitutional Information in London in 1780. This group worked to share ideas about how the government should work.
In the early 1780s, Jebb was a leader in the Association movement. This movement was important because it started the fight for parliamentary reform. This means they wanted to change how members of parliament were chosen. They wanted more people to have a say. This early work helped pave the way for later movements, like the Chartists in the 1800s. The Chartists also fought for similar changes to make voting fairer.
