“Dr James Martineau” by Henry Richard Hope-Pinker

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Dr James Martineau (1805-1900)

Henry Richard Hope-Pinker (1849-1927)

1897

Plaster cast of statuette (14" high)

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Martineau, the younger brother of Harriet Martineau, was a highly influential Unitarian minister, teacher and writer, who was for many years a Professor at Manchester New College before it moved to Oxford. He was first appointed Professor of mental and moral philosophy and logic there in 1840, though he retained his ministry at the Paradise Street Chapel in Liverpool (replaced by Hope Street Church in 1848). When the college moved to London in 1853, he continued to teach there, resigning from his Liverpool ministry only 1857, and becoming Principal of the college from 1869. [Commentary continues below.]

Martineau entered belatedly into a "studious retirement" in 1885 (Craufurd x), shared between homes in Aviemore in Scotland, and Gordon Square in London. Ralph Waller describes him as having been a "tall, wiry theologian, who enjoyed mountaineering and who had little small talk," but says that he was also "large-hearted and would give unstintingly of his time and effort to everyone who sought his help." Hope-Pinker has given this "tall, wiry" man a gentle expression and reflective pose, as befits the leading Unitarian thinker of the age. He died in London and was buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Image download, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee.

[Copyrighted image generously licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence]

Bibliography

Craufurd, Rev. Alexander H. Recollections of James Maritineau, with some letters from him and an essay on his religion. Edinburgh: George A. Morton, 1903. Internat Archive. Web. 6 October 2012.

"James Martineau." National Portrait Gallery. Web. 6 October 2012.

Waller, Ralph. "Martineau, James (1805-1900)." Dictionary of National Biography.Online ed. Web. 7 October 2012.

Last modified 7 October 2012