Thomas Crosby (1683–1751) was an English writer, author of ''History of the English Baptists''.

Life

Crosby was born in London, and was initially a sailor. He attended the

Royal Mathematical School Royal Mathematical School is a branch of Christ's Hospital, founded by Charles II. It is currently Christ's Hospital's Maths Department. History It was established so that potential sailors could learn navigation and mathematicians could train ...

. A Baptist convert, Crosby was a member of the Horselydown church in

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

. He kept a mathematical and commercial school there, from 1710 for 40 years. With John Robinson as partner in the school, Crosby had a business selling instruments, globes and books. He married the daughter of

Benjamin Keach Benjamin Keach (29 February 1640 – 18 July 1704) was an English Baptist minister and author whose name was given to '' Keach's Catechism''. Biography Keach was born on 29 February 1640 to John and Fedora Keeche at Stoke Hammond, Buck ...

, as did Keach's successor as pastor, Benjamin Stinton (d. 1719). Crosby successfully advocated the divisive selection of John Gill as Stinton's successor, but then fell under a cloud with the church. Expelled, he joined the Unicorn Yard congregation (the secession of those dissatisfied with Gill), but was again pushed out. In both cases, his honesty was put into question.

Works

Crosby's ''History of the English Baptists, from the Reformation to the beginning of the reign of George I'' (1738–40, 4 vols.), has biographical notices of earlier Baptist ministers, but is not acute in distinguishing different divisions of the Baptists, although Crosby acknowledged the distinctions made by Stinton. In fact, much of the materials used by Crosby were collected by Stinton. The work gave offence to Baptists when it appeared. The next historian of the English Baptists, Adam Taylor the nephew of

Dan Taylor Daniel, Dan, or Danny Taylor may refer to: Sportspeople *Dan Taylor (shot putter) (born 1982), American shot putter *Dan Taylor (cricketer) (1887–1957), South African cricketer *Dan Taylor (footballer, born 1993), English footballer *Dan Taylor ( ...

, distinguished the

Particular Baptists Reformed Baptists, also called Particular Baptists, or Calvinist Baptists, are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation belief teached by John Calvin). The name "Reformed Baptist" dates from the latter part of the 20th century ...

from the

General Baptists General Baptists, also called Arminian Baptists, are Baptists that hold to the doctrine of general atonement (belief that Jesus Christ died for all humanity and not only for the elect). General Baptist soteriology initially was not Arminian, bu ...

, writing about the latter. Crosby also wrote ''A Brief Reply to Mr. John Lewis's History of the Rise and Progress of Anabaptism in England'', 1738, against

John Lewis John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American civil rights activist and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for from 1987 until his death in 2020. He participated in the 1960 Nashville ...

. He supplied

Daniel Neal Portrait of Neal by William Holl the Elder Daniel Neal (14 December 16784 April 1743) was an English historian. Biography Born in London, he was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, and at the universities of Utrecht and Leiden. In 1704 ...

with information on Baptists for his ''History of the Puritans''. In 1719 Crosby published ''The London Practice'', which was an instructional work for merchants. He wrote a ''Mariner's Guide'' (1751) or ''Complete Treatise on Navigation''. In 1749 his ''The Book-keeper's Guide'' was published.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Crosby, Thomas 1683 births Historians of Christianity English Baptists English biographers 18th-century English writers 18th-century English male writers 18th-century Baptists 1751 deaths British historians of religion