Robert Halley
Encyclopedia
Robert Halley was an English
Congregationalist minister and abolitionist. He was noted for his association with the politics of Repeal of the Corn Laws
, and became Classical Tutor at Highbury College and Principal of New College
, St John's Wood, London.
near London
in 1796. His father, Robert Halley senior, was the younger son of a farming family, and had moved south from Perthshire
, Scotland
in his youth to make his own way in life, living for a while as Head Gardener to a family in Dorset, and then becoming a nurseryman at Blackheath. Halley's mother was Ann Bellows of Bere Regis
, Dorsetshire. She died whilst Robert was very young and he was sent to Dorset to live with his maternal uncle, though returning a few years later to Blackheath to attend Maze Hill School and then, in 1810, begin working for his father as a nurseyman. In 1811 his father married for a second time. Shortly, Robert, his brothers and sisters, his nurseryman father, and stepmother, were joined by the second Mrs Halley's only daughter. The family, now three boys and two girls were soon, however, to again be deprived of a mother; for the second Mrs Halley then died.
Into this upbringing, where death was no stranger, Robert was also influenced by his father's piety. On settling at Blackheath
for employment, Halley had at first regularly walked into London each Sunday to dutifully attend the Presbyterian Chapel in Oxenden Street. Finding this too much for work the next day, he looked for closer chapel, but nevertheless took upon himself a lengthy walk to the one of his choice - Butt Lane Meeting House (later named High Street Chapel) in Deptford where he became a Deacon. Robert would walk with his father across the heath every Sunday morning, attend the chapel, take lunch there, then visit the sick and poor before walking back across the heath. Robert began to look for a career in the dissenting chapels, and though not being successful in applying to Hoxton Academy, he was offered a place at Homerton College in 1816, under the tutorship of John Pye Smith, for a six-year course.
from Princeton College, New Jersey in 1834. In the previous year he had become noted in the abolition movement, delivering a sermon on The Sinfulness of Colonial Slavery at the Meeting House of his former tutor, John Pye Smith of Hackney
. In 1839 he returned to the ministry, as pastor of Mosley Street Chapel, Manchester
. Here became closely associated with the Anti-Corn Law movement, supporting the cause for repeal that became strong amongst the working-class of the northern industrial cities, as well as amongst the northern cities' Members of Parliament and their well-to-do city electorates (which after the 1832 Reform Act gave the vote to about eleven percent of the population). One of Halley's sons, Jacob John (1834-1910) also became a minister (he was a noted Congregational minister in Australia). Another son Dr. Ebenezer Halley (born Highbury College, London in 1836 - died Lawrence
, Otago, New Zealand, 22 November 1875)
was the Assistant Surgeon to the Melbourne Gaol in Australia and later a doctor in Lawrence.
, London (from 1857-1872), succeeding John Harris
; and wrote a number of printed books and sermons.
, in Stoke Newington
, London
.
Select List of Published Works
References and further reading
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Congregationalist minister and abolitionist. He was noted for his association with the politics of Repeal of the Corn Laws
Anti-Corn Law League
The Anti-Corn Law League was in effect the resumption of the Anti-Corn Law Association, which had been created in London in 1836 but did not obtain widespread popularity. The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in Manchester in 1838...
, and became Classical Tutor at Highbury College and Principal of New College
New College London
New College London was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.-Predecessor institutions:...
, St John's Wood, London.
Early life
Robert Halley was born in BlackheathBlackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1796. His father, Robert Halley senior, was the younger son of a farming family, and had moved south from Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in his youth to make his own way in life, living for a while as Head Gardener to a family in Dorset, and then becoming a nurseryman at Blackheath. Halley's mother was Ann Bellows of Bere Regis
Bere Regis
Bere Regis is a village in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England, situated north-west of Wareham.The village has one shop, a post office and two pubs, The Royal Oak and The Drax Arms. The parish church is St. John the Baptist Church...
, Dorsetshire. She died whilst Robert was very young and he was sent to Dorset to live with his maternal uncle, though returning a few years later to Blackheath to attend Maze Hill School and then, in 1810, begin working for his father as a nurseyman. In 1811 his father married for a second time. Shortly, Robert, his brothers and sisters, his nurseryman father, and stepmother, were joined by the second Mrs Halley's only daughter. The family, now three boys and two girls were soon, however, to again be deprived of a mother; for the second Mrs Halley then died.
Into this upbringing, where death was no stranger, Robert was also influenced by his father's piety. On settling at Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
for employment, Halley had at first regularly walked into London each Sunday to dutifully attend the Presbyterian Chapel in Oxenden Street. Finding this too much for work the next day, he looked for closer chapel, but nevertheless took upon himself a lengthy walk to the one of his choice - Butt Lane Meeting House (later named High Street Chapel) in Deptford where he became a Deacon. Robert would walk with his father across the heath every Sunday morning, attend the chapel, take lunch there, then visit the sick and poor before walking back across the heath. Robert began to look for a career in the dissenting chapels, and though not being successful in applying to Hoxton Academy, he was offered a place at Homerton College in 1816, under the tutorship of John Pye Smith, for a six-year course.
Life as a Pastor
Halley was ordined on 11 June 1822 as pastor of a new independent congregation at St. Neot's, Huntingdonshire. Four years later, in 1826 when the new Highbury College opened near London, he was invited to work as Classical Tutor at the College. His academic work here led to an unsolicited degree of D.D.Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Princeton College, New Jersey in 1834. In the previous year he had become noted in the abolition movement, delivering a sermon on The Sinfulness of Colonial Slavery at the Meeting House of his former tutor, John Pye Smith of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
. In 1839 he returned to the ministry, as pastor of Mosley Street Chapel, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Here became closely associated with the Anti-Corn Law movement, supporting the cause for repeal that became strong amongst the working-class of the northern industrial cities, as well as amongst the northern cities' Members of Parliament and their well-to-do city electorates (which after the 1832 Reform Act gave the vote to about eleven percent of the population). One of Halley's sons, Jacob John (1834-1910) also became a minister (he was a noted Congregational minister in Australia). Another son Dr. Ebenezer Halley (born Highbury College, London in 1836 - died Lawrence
Lawrence
-Communities:Australia*Lawrence, New South WalesNew Zealand* Lawrence, New ZealandUnited States* Lawrence, Indiana* Lawrence, Kansas* Lawrence, Massachusetts* Lawrence, Michigan* Lawrence, Nebraska* Lawrence, New York...
, Otago, New Zealand, 22 November 1875)
was the Assistant Surgeon to the Melbourne Gaol in Australia and later a doctor in Lawrence.
Life as an Academic
In later life Halley became Principal of New CollegeNew College London
New College London was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.-Predecessor institutions:...
, London (from 1857-1872), succeeding John Harris
John Harris (college head)
John Harris , English Congregational minister, Christian essayist and author, became the first Principal of New College, St John’s Wood, London.-Early life:...
; and wrote a number of printed books and sermons.
Death & Memorial
Halley died in 1876. His memorial, a stone coffin tomb with hipped top, stands at Abney Park CemeteryAbney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
, in Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Select List of Published Works
- Halley, Rev. Robert (1833) The Sinfulness of Colonial Slavery
- Halley, Rev. Dr. Robert (1869) Lancashire, its puritanism and Nonconformity, 2 vols
- Halley, Rev. Robert (1861) Memoir of Thomas Godwin D.D., prefixed to Godwin's Works
References and further reading
- Lee, Sidney ed., (1897 edn) Dictionary of National Biography, London
- Halley, Robert M.A. (1879), A Short Biography of Rev. Robert Halley D.D. , London
- Halley, Rev. Dr. Robert (1833) The Sinfulness of Colonial Slavery, London [republished c.2006 by Cornell University Library, USA]
- Australian Dictionary of Biography for Halley, Jacob John http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040369b.htm