Conyers Middleton
An 18th-century English clergyman whose elegant prose and skeptical writings on miracles placed him at the center of intellectual firestorms.
1683–1750 (age 67)·English clergyman and writer·Birthday: December 27
Biography
Conyers Middleton was a figure who thrived in the friction between faith, scholarship, and controversy in Georgian England. A Cambridge-educated clergyman, he secured the position of University Librarian, which provided a platform for his literary pursuits. Middleton's true impact lay in his pen; he was widely admired for the clarity and force of his English prose style. This very skill made his skeptical inquiries all the more dangerous to the orthodox. His most famous work, 'A Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers', argued that the post-apostolic miracles of the early church were fraudulent, a direct challenge to established Anglican doctrine. The book sparked furious debate and accusations of heresy, yet it also positioned him as a pivotal, if contentious, voice in the Enlightenment's critical examination of religious history.
#1 When Conyers Was Born
The biggest hits of 1683
Conyers's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1683Born
1688Started school
1696Became a teenager
1699Could drive
1701Could vote
1704Turned 21
1713Turned 30
1723Turned 40
1733Turned 50
1743Turned 60
1750Died at 67
Key Achievements
- Served as the Principal Librarian of the University of Cambridge.
- Published the controversial 'A Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers' in 1749.
- Was considered one of the foremost English prose stylists of his era.
Did You Know?
He was a protégé of the famous classicist Richard Bentley, though they later became bitter enemies.
His work on miracles influenced later thinkers, including the philosopher David Hume.
He held a doctorate of divinity (DD) from Cambridge University.
“True religion needs no defense from free inquiry.”
