Thomas Ashton (divine) facts for kids
Thomas Ashton (1716–1775) was an English religious leader. He was known as a "cleric," which means he held important positions in the church. He also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.), which is a high academic honor in religious studies.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Ashton was born in 1716. His father was also a Dr. Ashton, who worked as a teacher at the Lancaster grammar school.
Thomas Ashton went to Eton College, a famous school in England. While there, he became good friends with a group of students: Thomas Gray, Horace Walpole, and Richard West. They called their group the "Quadruple Alliance."
In 1733, Ashton continued his studies at King's College, Cambridge, another well-known university. He later became a tutor, teaching the Earl of Plymouth. A tutor is like a private teacher.
Church Career and Challenges
Thomas Ashton held several important jobs in the church. He was a rector, which is a priest in charge of a church and its area. He served as rector in places like Aldingham, Lancashire, and Sturminster Marshall in Dorset. In 1752, he became the rector of St Botolph, Bishopsgate in London.
Ashton had a disagreement with his friend Horace Walpole around 1750. Walpole had helped Ashton get ahead in his church career, but they fell out after Ashton wrote something against another friend of Walpole's.
In 1759, Ashton received his Doctor of Divinity degree. He got married in December 1760 to a woman named Miss Amyand. In 1762, he was chosen to be a preacher at Lincoln's Inn, a famous legal institution, but he left that role in 1764.
Thomas Ashton passed away on March 1, 1775.
Published Works
Thomas Ashton wrote many sermons, which are speeches given in church. These were collected and published in a book called Sermons on several Occasions in 1770.
He also had a public debate in 1754 with a Methodist minister named Mr. Jones. Ashton wrote a letter to him, titled A Letter to the Rev. Thomas Jones, explaining his views.
Ashton also wrote some short books, called pamphlets, about who should be allowed to become "fellows" at Eton College. Fellows are like senior members or teachers at a college. He was against allowing people from outside England to become fellows there.
