Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Allen, John (1771-1839)

by no contributor recorded

For works with similar titles, see John Allen.

ALLEN, JOHN (1771–1839), dissenting layman, was born at Truro in 1771, educated there by Dr. Cardue, and afterwards kept an academy for thirty years at Hackney, where he died on 17 June 1839. His chief work was called ‘Modern Judaism; or a Brief Account of the Opinions, Traditions, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Jews in Modern Times’ (i.e. since the christian era), 1 vol. 8vo, 1816. It was reprinted in 1830. He also published in 1812 an anonymous volume called ‘The Fathers, the Reformers, and the Public Formularies of the Church of England in Harmony with Calvin and against the Bishop of Lincoln’ [Dr. Tomline]; ‘Memoirs of Major-General Burn,’ 1815; and translated Calvin's ‘Institutes’ (1815, 2nd edition 1838); some sermons of D. de Superville, 1816; and ‘Two Dissertations on Sacrifices’ from the Latin of William Owtram, 1817.

[S.D.U.K. Dictionary; Gent. Mag. N.S. xii. 210; Courtney and Boase's Bibliotheca Cornub. i. 3–4.]