Nathaniel Wanley
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Wanley was an English clergyman and writer, known for The Wonders of the Little World.
in 1634, and baptised on 27 March. His father was a mercer. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
, and graduated B.A. in 1653, M.A. in 1657. His first preferment was as rector of Beeby
, Leicestershire
. On the resignation of John Bryan
, the nonconformist vicar of Trinity Church, Coventry, Wanley was instituted his successor on 28 October 1662.
Wanley kept in touch with the prevailing Puritanism of Coventry
. With Bryan, who attended his services though ministering also to a nonconformist congregation, he was intimate, and on Bryan's death in 1676 he preached his funeral sermon of warm appreciation. It was published posthumously, with the title ‘Peace and Rest for the Upright,’ 1681.
Wanley died in 1680; he was succeeded by Samuel Barton on 22 December. Wanley gave or bequeathed to the grammar school library at Coventry a copy of the Imitatio Christi, described as ‘Ecclesiastical Music, written on Parchment, about the time of King Edward IV.’
. He published ‘War and Peace Reconciled … two books,’ 1670 and 1672, a translation from the Latin of Justus Lipsius
.
Wanley's major work is ‘The Wonders of the Little World; or a General History of Man. In Six Books,’ 1678, dedicated (17 June 1677) to Sir Harbottle Grimston, 2nd Baronet. The work, which is meant to illustrate anecdotically the prodigies of human nature, shows wide reading but is credulous; authorities are fully given and referenced. Later editions include that of 1774, with revision, and index; and 1806–7, 2 vols., with additions by William Johnston who worked with John Aikin
on the General Biography.
Wanley also compiled a history of the Fielding family, which is printed in John Nichols
's Leicestershire.
.
Attribution
Life
He was born at LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in 1634, and baptised on 27 March. His father was a mercer. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and graduated B.A. in 1653, M.A. in 1657. His first preferment was as rector of Beeby
Beeby
Beeby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England, with a population of about 100. It is situated north-east of Leicester, nearer to the villages of Keyham and Hungarton in the neighbouring district of Harborough. The village lies on the Barkby Brook. The...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. On the resignation of John Bryan
John Bryan (minister)
-Life:Bryan was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and held the rectory of Barford, near Warwick, but left it to go to Coventry, as vicar of Trinity Church, in 1644. Bryan was appointed by Parliament, and was not cordially welcomed by the vestry....
, the nonconformist vicar of Trinity Church, Coventry, Wanley was instituted his successor on 28 October 1662.
Wanley kept in touch with the prevailing Puritanism of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. With Bryan, who attended his services though ministering also to a nonconformist congregation, he was intimate, and on Bryan's death in 1676 he preached his funeral sermon of warm appreciation. It was published posthumously, with the title ‘Peace and Rest for the Upright,’ 1681.
Wanley died in 1680; he was succeeded by Samuel Barton on 22 December. Wanley gave or bequeathed to the grammar school library at Coventry a copy of the Imitatio Christi, described as ‘Ecclesiastical Music, written on Parchment, about the time of King Edward IV.’
Works
His first publication, ‘Vox Dei, or the Great Duty of Self-reflection upon a Man's own Wayes,’ 1658, was dedicated to Dorothy Spencer, Countess of SunderlandDorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland
Dorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland was the wife of Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland and the daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester....
. He published ‘War and Peace Reconciled … two books,’ 1670 and 1672, a translation from the Latin of Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
.
Wanley's major work is ‘The Wonders of the Little World; or a General History of Man. In Six Books,’ 1678, dedicated (17 June 1677) to Sir Harbottle Grimston, 2nd Baronet. The work, which is meant to illustrate anecdotically the prodigies of human nature, shows wide reading but is credulous; authorities are fully given and referenced. Later editions include that of 1774, with revision, and index; and 1806–7, 2 vols., with additions by William Johnston who worked with John Aikin
John Aikin
John Aikin was an English doctor and writer.-Life:He was born at Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, England, son of Dr. John Aikin, Unitarian divine, and received his elementary education at the Nonconformist academy at Warrington, where his father was a tutor. He studied medicine at the...
on the General Biography.
Wanley also compiled a history of the Fielding family, which is printed in John Nichols
John Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
's Leicestershire.
Family
He was married on 24 July 1655; by his wife Ellen (b. 30 April 1633, d. 28 June 1719), daughter of Humphrey Burton, coroner and town clerk of Coventry, he had five children, among them Humfrey WanleyHumfrey Wanley
Humfrey Wanley was a librarian, palaeographer and scholar of Old English, employed by manuscript collectors such as Robert and Edward Harley. He was the first keeper of the Harlein Library, now the Harleian Collection.-Life:...
.
Further reading
- L. C. Martin (editor) (1928), The Poems of Nathaniel Wanley
Attribution