Thomas Dixon (nonconformist) facts for kids

Thomas Dixon was an important English minister and teacher who lived a long time ago, from 1679 or 1680 until 1729. He was a "nonconformist," which means he was a Protestant who did not agree with the rules and ways of the official Church of England.

Life of Thomas Dixon

Thomas Dixon was born in a place called Ravenstonedale in Westmorland around 1679 or 1680. It's thought he was the son of a church member who followed the Church of England.

He went to school in Manchester from about 1700 to 1704. During this time, he wasn't sure if he wanted to be a nonconformist minister or join the Church of England.

After his studies, he worked briefly as a minister in Colchester in 1704. By October 1705, he became the minister for a group of nonconformists in Whitehaven. This group had been started by Presbyterians from Ireland.

Dixon's Academy and Influence

While in Whitehaven, Thomas Dixon became a very important nonconformist leader in the area. He started a special school called a "dissenting academy." These academies were important because they trained future nonconformist ministers. His school was definitely open by 1710.

In 1709, he traveled to Scotland and received an honorary MA degree, which is a type of master's degree. In 1712, one of his old teachers, James Coningham, joined his academy. This made Dixon's school known as the best nonconformist academy in northern England.

Dixon was able to help his students get money for their studies from a group called the Presbyterian Fund Board. Some of his famous students included John Taylor, George Benson, Caleb Rotheram, and Henry Winder.

Later Life and Medical Work

Around 1722 or 1723, Dixon moved to Bolton, Lancashire. He became the minister at the Bank Street meeting house there. He also moved his academy with him to Bolton.

Besides being a minister and teacher, Thomas Dixon also practiced medicine. He had earned a medical degree (M.D.) from King's College, Aberdeen, in 1718.

Thomas Dixon passed away at his home in Bolton on August 14, 1729, when he was 50 years old. He was buried in his meeting house. A memorial there, put up by his son Richard, said he was "easily chief among physicians and theologians." He had married Eleanor Stanger sometime after 1708. She was the daughter of a church leader from Cockermouth.

Dixon's Family

Thomas Dixon had a son, also named Thomas Dixon, who was born in Bolton on July 16, 1721. His son also studied to become a minister at Kendal Academy, starting in 1738. The Presbyterian Fund Board helped pay for his studies too.

The younger Thomas Dixon first worked as a minister in Thame, Oxfordshire, starting in 1743. In 1750, he became an assistant minister in Norwich. He tried to start a Greek "concordance," which is like an index for words in the Bible, but he didn't finish much of it.

In August 1752, he happily accepted a call to become the minister for his father's old church group in Bolton. He was officially ordained as a minister on April 26, 1753. He passed away on February 23, 1754, and was buried next to his father.

After his death, his friend John Seddon helped publish one of his writings called "The Sovereignty of the Divine Administration."

See also

• List of dissenting academies (1660–1800)