Richard Amner facts for kids

Richard Amner (born 1736, died 1803) was an English minister. He was part of a Christian group called Presbyterians, who were also known as Unitarians. A "divine" is another word for a religious leader or theologian.

Amner's Early Life and Education

Richard Amner was born in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. His parents were Richard and Anne Amner. He was baptized on April 26, 1737, at the local Presbyterian meeting-house.

In 1755, Amner began studying at Daventry Academy. He spent seven years there, preparing to become a minister. This academy helped train people who were not part of the official Church of England.

Becoming a Minister

After his studies, Amner became a minister. On July 21, 1762, he started leading the Unitarian chapel in Yarmouth. However, his religious ideas did not quite match those of his congregation.

So, he preached his last sermon there on March 5, 1764. The next year, in 1765, he moved to Hampstead, London. There, he began working at what is now known as Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel.

Later Ministry and Retirement

In 1777, Amner moved again to become a pastor in Coseley, Staffordshire. He stayed in this role until the end of 1794. After this, he decided to retire from being a minister.

He moved back to his hometown of Hinckley. In his retirement, he wrote articles for the Gentleman's Magazine. This was a popular magazine at the time.

A Literary Mix-Up

While Amner was preaching in Hampstead, a famous writer named George Steevens also lived there. Steevens was known for editing the works of William Shakespeare.

In 1793, Steevens published a new edition of Shakespeare's plays. In this book, he put Amner's name on some rude or inappropriate notes. Steevens was too embarrassed to put his own name on them.

This event caused a lot of talk and sympathy for Amner. People realized that Amner was not responsible for these notes. Richard Amner passed away on June 8, 1803, at the age of 67.

Amner's Published Books

Richard Amner wrote and published several books during his life. These books explored his religious and theological ideas.

Books Published in Hampstead

While he was a minister in Hampstead, Amner published three books:

• A Dissertation on the Weekly Festival of the Christian Church (published anonymously, meaning without his name), 1768.
• An Account of the Positive Institutions of Christianity, 1774.
• An Essay towards the Interpretation of the Prophecies of Daniel, 1776.

Later Work

After leaving Hampstead, he published another book:

• Considerations on the Doctrines of a Future State, in 1797.