John Whitaker B.D., F.S.A. (1735 in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

– 1808 in Ruan Lanihorne), was an English historian and Anglican clergyman. Besides historical studies on the Roman Empire and on the early history of Great Britain he was a reviewer for London magazines and a poet.

Life

He was the son of James Whitaker, innkeeper, and was born in

on 27 April 1735. In 1771, he published the first volume of ''The History of Manchester''; and the second volume in 1775. A copy of Whitaker's manuscript of the continuation to the fifteenth century is in Chetham's Library, Manchester. Whitaker's views on early British society were

idiosyncratic An idiosyncrasy is a unique feature of something. The term is often used to express peculiarity. Etymology The term "idiosyncrasy" originates from Greek ', "a peculiar temperament, habit of body" (from ', "one's own", ', "with" and ', "blend ...

: in his ''History of Manchester'', (1771–75) he argued that the ancient Britons had already established a feudal system, and under the Romans had been entirely converted to Christianity (his erudition was recognised as remarkable but the theories were mostly illfounded). ''The Life of St Neot'', published posthumously in 1809, was similarly intended to challenge traditional orthodoxies in the form of the extant saint's lives. According to historian Elizabeth A. R. Brown, Whitaker was the first to coin the term "

feudalism Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of struc ...

" (though not its earlier variations such as "feudal" and "feudal system") and he introduced the notion of a 'feudal pyramid'.Elizabeth A. R. Brown, "Reflections on Feudalism: Thomas Madox and the Origins of the Feudal System in England," in ''Feud, Violence and Practice: Essays in Medieval Studies in Honor of Stephen D. White'', ed. Belle S. Tuten and Tracey L. Billado (Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2010), 135-155 at 145-149. He took his degrees at Oxford: B.A. 1755; M.A. 1759; and B.D. 1767: he was elected a

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...

in 1771. After taking his degrees and holding two curacies he became Rector of Ruan Lanihorne in Cornwall in 1777 or 1778. He also published a number of sermons, poems, and articles for Richard Polwhele's ''History of Cornwall''. He was a prolific reviewer for the '' English Review'', ''

British Critic The ''British Critic: A New Review'' was a quarterly publication, established in 1793 as a conservative and high-church review journal riding the tide of British reaction against the French Revolution. The headquarters was in London. The journa ...

'', and Anti-Jacobin Review, finding this an important means of supplementing his income and paying for the books necessary for his studies. In addition to his published works he had planned or contemplated a number of other projects: a parochial history of

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

, a military history of the Romans in Britain, a history of Oxford, one of London, notes on

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

, and illustrations to the Bible. He was a man of fiery temperament and extreme views, and a fervent belief in all the tenets of ‘orthodox’ Christianity. He was able to inspire considerable friendship and loyalty from those who knew him best. His close friend Richard Polwhele described him as being of a tall, muscular frame, dark featured, and with light greenish eyes. He reputedly had a squint and wore false teeth made of ebony. He died at his rectory on 30 October 1808 and was buried in Ruan Lanihorne in Cornwall; his widow Jane (née Tregenna), who had long suffered ill health, lived on until 30 December 1828. He studied the decline of the

Cornish language Cornish (Standard Written Form: or , ) is a Southwestern Brittonic language, Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. Along with Welsh language, Welsh and Breton language, Breton, Cornish descends from Common Brittonic, ...

and concluded in his work ''The Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall'' Fred W. P. Jago (1882), The Ancient Language and the Dialect of Cornwall. Truro: Netherton and Worth (reissued by AMS Press, NY, 1983), pp.4 ff. :''The English Liturgy, was not desired by the Cornish, but forced upon them by the tyranny of England, at a time when the English language was yet unknown in Cornwall. This act of tyranny was at once gross barbarity to the Cornish people, and a death blow to the Cornish language.''

Selected works

* ''The Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall Historically Surveyed'' (1804) (in 2 volumes). London: John Stockdale n account of the church of St Germans* ''The Course of Hannibal Over the Alps Ascertained'' (1794). London: John Stockdale *''The Genuine History of the Britons Asserted'' (1772). ondon: sold by Dodsley *''The History of Manchester'' (1771 & 1775). Books 1 & 2 (3 parts in 2 volumes). London: sold by Dodsley t al. ncient British, Roman and early Anglo-Saxon periods only*''The Life of Saint Neot, the Oldest of all the Brothers to King Alfred'' (1809). London: John Joseph Stockdale (published posthumously: Stockdale was also the editor) * ''Mary Queen of Scots Vindicated'' (1787) (in 3 volumes) London: John Murray * ''The Origin of

Arianism Arianism (, ) is a Christology, Christological doctrine which rejects the traditional notion of the Trinity and considers Jesus to be a creation of God, and therefore distinct from God. It is named after its major proponent, Arius (). It is co ...

Disclosed'' (1791) London : Printed for John Stockdale * ''The Real Origin of Government'' (1795). London: John Stockdale

References

External links and bibliography

* http://www.mancuniensis.info/Chronology/Chronology1808FPX.htm His numerous writings are listed in ''Bibliotheca Cornubiensis'' by Boase and Courtney and in ''Palatine Note-book'', vol. i., p. 77. * * John Eglington Bailey (1879) ''John Whitaker'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Whitaker, John 1735 births 1808 deaths Writers from Manchester Celtic studies scholars Cornish language 18th-century English Anglican priests English topographers Burials in Cornwall English male writers