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James Simpson (Bible Christian)

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For other people named James Simpson, see James Simpson (disambiguation).
The Reverend
James Simpson
A detailed black-and-white engraving of a man with a beard and neatly combed hair.
Portrait from Fifty Years of Food Reform (1898)
Born(1812-07-09)9 July 1812
Clitheroe, Lancashire, England
Died3 September 1859(1859-09-03) (aged 47)
Accrington, Lancashire, England
Burial placeSt James' Church, Church Kirk, Lancashire, England
Occupation(s)Deacon, activist
Known forVegetarianism activism
TitlePresident of the Vegetarian Society
Term1847–1849
SuccessorWilliam Harvey[1]
Spouse
Hannah Harvey
​
(m. 1843)​
Children2
RelativesWilliam Harvey (father-in-law)

James Simpson (9 July 1812 – 3 September 1859) was a Bible Christian deacon and activist for a number of causes. He was active in the vegetarianism, temperance, anti-tobacco, anti-Corn Law and peace movements. Simpson co-founded and served as the first President of the Vegetarian Society.

Biography

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James Simpson was born on 9 July 1812,[2] in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the son of James Simpson Sr.,[3] a wealthy calico printer.[4] His family were members of the Bible Christian Church.[5] He was educated by Rev. W. Wood at Hybrake House, Altham,[6] and received a private education in London and Berlin.[7]

Simpson married Hannah Harvey in 1843;[4] they had two children.[6] His father-in-law was William Harvey, who was Mayor of Salford from 1857 to 1859 and a prominent Bible Christian.[8]

Actively engaged in public life, Simpson supported diverse social and political reforms. A member of the Anti-Corn Law League, he also joined the temperance movement during a time when such a choice was uncommon.[7] He served as Vice-President of the United Kingdom Alliance. In addition, he was a prominent member of the Lancashire Liberal Party.[5]

Embracing the tenets of Bible Christianity and influenced by Swedenborg, Simpson maintained a lifelong commitment to vegetarianism, instilled by his mother.[7] He helped form and was elected the first president of the Vegetarian Society in 1847.[9] His travels abroad led to the establishment of international vegetarian societies.[10] He also anonymously published two works on vegetarianism.[5]

Simpson died on 3 September 1859, at the age of 47.[4] He was living in Foxhill Bank, Accrington, and suffered from a long illness for 18 months.[6] Simpson was buried at St James' Church, Church Kirk.[11] A 30 feet (9.1 m) high memorial obelisk was also erected there.[5]

Selected publications

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  • The Products of the Vegetable Kingdom vs the Flesh of Animals as Food 'Part I' (London: 1847)
  • A Few Recipes of Vegetable Diet with Suggestions for the Formation of a Dietary, from which the Flesh of Animals is Excluded... (London: Whittaker, 1847)

References

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  1. ^ Antrobus, Derek. "History of Vegetarianism - William Harvey (1789-1870)". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  2. ^ Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
  3. ^ "Biography: Mary Rostron". Weaste Cemetery Heritage Trail. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  4. ^ a b c "Biography: Mary Harvey". Weaste Cemetery Heritage Trail. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  5. ^ a b c d Gregory, James Richard Thomas Elliott (2002). "Biographical Index of British Vegetarians and Food reformers of the Victorian Era". The Vegetarian Movement in Britain c.1840–1901: A Study of Its Development, Personnel and Wider Connections (PDF). Vol. 2. University of Southampton. p. 106. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  6. ^ a b c "Interment of the Remains of the Late Mr. Simpson". The Weekly Standard and Express. 1859-09-14. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com (subscription required).
  7. ^ a b c "The Vegetarian Movement in England 1847-1981". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  8. ^ "Biography: Mary Rostron". Weaste Cemetery Heritage Trail. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  9. ^ "History". Vegetarian Society. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  10. ^ "Veggie revolution was led by the North". Lancashire Telegraph. 1998-01-08. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  11. ^ "Burials at St James in the Parish of Church Kirk". Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
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