John Adams (1750? – 1814) was a Scottish compiler of books for young readers.
Biography
Adams was born in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
about 1750. Having graduated from the university there, he obtained a preaching license, and coming to London was appointed minister of the Scotch church in
Hatton Garden
Hatton Garden is a street and commercial zone in the Holborn district of the London Borough of Camden, abutting the narrow precinct of Saffron Hill which then abuts the City of London. It takes its name from Sir Christopher Hatton, a favourit ...
. Subsequently he opened a school or academy at
Putney
Putney () is an affluent district in southwest London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
History
Putney is an ...
, which proved very successful; the botanists
Allan Cunningham and his brother
Richard
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'st ...
were pupils. He died at Putney in 1814.
[ ]
Most of his numerous works passed through many editions, and were largely used in schools. Among them may be mentioned:
# ''The Flowers of Ancient History'', 1788
# ''Elegant Anecdotes and Bon Mots'',’ 1790
# ''A View of Universal History'' (3 vols.), 1795, which includes a brief account of almost every country in the world down to the date of publication.
# ''The Flowers of Modern History'', 1796.
# ''
The Flowers of Modern Travels'', 1797.
# ''Curious Thoughts on the History of Man'', 1799.
Adams also published by subscription a volume of sermons dedicated to
Lord Grantham in 1805, and he was the author of a very popular Latin schoolbook, entitled ''Lectiones Selectæ'', which reached an eleventh edition in 1823.
References
External links
*
*Books by John Adams from the Internet Archive:
**
The Flowers of Modern History '
**
The Flowers of Modern Travels' volume I
**
The Flowers of Modern Travels' volume II
**
A View of Universal History, from the Creation to the Present Time'
**
Anecdotes, Bons-mots, and Characteristic Traits of the Greatest Princes, Politicians, etc'
**
A New History of Great Britain from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Present Time'
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, John
1750s births
1814 deaths
British education writers