Richard Baxter

BAXTER, Richard. b. Rowton, Shropshire, 12 November 1615; d. Finsbury, London, 8 December 1691. He was educated badly at Rowton, but then at the endowed free school at Wroxeter. Instead of going to a university (a decision he regretted throughout his life), he was sent to a tutor at Ludlow, who neglected his duties but allowed Baxter ‘books and time enough’ to develop his mind. After teaching briefly at his old school, it was suggested to him that he should go to London and the Court ‘and get some Office, as being the only rising way’, but he found the life there unsuited to his growing religious seriousness, which had been encouraged by some good ministers in his native county. He was...