Joshua Toulmin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joshua Toulmin
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1810 portrait of Joshua Toulmin
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| Born | 30 April 1740 |
| Died | 23 July 1815 (aged 75) Birmingham, England
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| Alma mater | Brown University, Harvard University |
| Occupation | Dissenting Minister |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Smith |
Joshua Toulmin (born April 30, 1740 – died July 23, 1815) was an important religious thinker and historian from England. He was a minister for different Christian groups throughout his life. He started as a Presbyterian minister, then became a Baptist minister, and finally a Unitarian minister.
Toulmin was known for supporting the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution. These were big events where people fought for freedom and change. Because he supported these revolutions, some people in England saw him as a radical, meaning someone with very different or extreme ideas for his time.
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About Joshua Toulmin
His Early Life and Education
Joshua Toulmin was born in London, England, on April 30, 1740. His parents were Caleb Toulmin and Mary Skinner. When he was eight years old, he started attending St. Paul's School in London.
As he grew up, Toulmin developed strong nonconformist beliefs. This meant he chose not to follow the official Church of England. Instead, he studied at a special school called a dissenting academy in Wellclose Square. This school was for people who disagreed with the Church of England's teachings.
Becoming a Dissenting Minister
In 1761, when Joshua Toulmin was 21, he became a Dissenting minister. This meant he was a religious leader for a group of Christians who were not part of the Church of England.
After finishing his studies, Reverend Toulmin became the Presbyterian minister for a group in Colyton, England. Even though this group was Presbyterian, Toulmin's own beliefs started to change. He became a Baptist, meaning he believed that only adults should be baptized, not babies. This idea is called antipaedobaptism.
His Family Life
When he was 24, Joshua Toulmin married Jane Smith. They had twelve children together, but sadly, only five of them survived. Because of his beliefs about baptism, Toulmin might not have registered his children's births.
Their oldest son, Harry Toulmin, also became a Unitarian minister. He later moved to America. He had to leave his job as president of Transylvania University because of his Unitarian beliefs, which were seen as different from mainstream Christianity at the time.
Joshua Toulmin's grandson was named Joshua Toulmin Smith.
From Baptist to Unitarian Minister
In 1765, at age 25, Toulmin moved to Taunton, England. Here, he became a Baptist minister for the Mary Street Unitarian Chapel. He stayed in Taunton for 39 years. During this time, he also taught at a school and wrote many books and papers.
He wrote over sixty works, often sharing his strong support for the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution. These revolutions were happening while England was at war with America and France. Because Toulmin supported England's enemies, he faced difficulties. People would sometimes insult him, and his windows were even broken.
In 1769, Toulmin received a Master of Arts degree from what is now Brown University in the United States.
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In 1778, Toulmin wrote a letter to another minister, Reverend Robert Robinson. In this letter, he asked for copies of Robinson's talks about nonconformity. He wanted to use them to help prepare his own talks. The letter also shows his thoughts on baptism.
In 1790, Toulmin took a census of Taunton. He counted almost 5,500 people living in the town. He then wrote a book called The History of Taunton in the County of Somerset, which was published in 1791.
In 1794, Toulmin received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Harvard University in the United States. This meant he was now called Doctor Toulmin.
In 1798, Toulmin faced a great sadness when his daughter Jane drowned. Despite this personal tragedy and the political difficulties he faced, he remained strong. The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote about how Dr. Toulmin handled his daughter's death with great faith and strength.
His Final Years in Birmingham
Over time, Toulmin's religious beliefs changed again, from Baptist to Unitarian. In January 1804, when he was 64, he moved to Birmingham, England. He became one of the pastors for the Birmingham Unitarian group. This was the same group that the famous scientist Joseph Priestley had led.
Joshua Toulmin passed away in Birmingham on July 23, 1815, at the age of 75. He was first buried in the Old Meeting graveyard in Birmingham. Later, his tombstone was moved to the Witton Cemetery in 1886.
His Writings and Works
Dr. Toulmin was a very active writer. He wrote more than sixty publications on various topics. These included religion and spirituality, history, parenting and families, and other nonfiction subjects.
He also wrote articles for different magazines and journals, such as Theological Repository and The Monthly Magazine. Many of his personal letters have been saved and can be found in Dr Williams's Library in London. The Taunton public library also has a copy of his book, "The History of Taunton in the County of Somerset," and other papers related to him.
