Samuel Medley

MEDLEY, Samuel. b. Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, 23 June 1738; d. Liverpool, 17 July 1799. His father was a schoolmaster. He joined the Royal Navy, retiring from active service after being severely wounded at a battle off Port Lagos in 1759. He was converted by a sermon of Isaac Watts*, read to him by his grandfather, and by hearing George Whitefield* preach. In 1760 he joined a Baptist Church in Eagle Street, London. He opened a school, and also became a preacher, being ‘set aside’ to be a minister by the Eagle Street church in 1766: he was pastor of a Baptist congregation at Watford, Hertfordshire (1767-72) and one at Liverpool (1772-99), where he became friendly with John Fawcett*. During...