Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blayney, Benjamin
BLAYNEY, BENJAMIN, D.D. (1728–1801), Hebrew scholar, was first a member of Worcester College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1750 and M.A. in 1753. He afterwards became fellow, and eventually vice-principal, of Hertford College, and took the degree of B.D. in 1768. He was employed by the Clarendon Press to prepare a corrected edition of the authorised version of the Bible. This edition, which has received very high praise for its accuracy, appeared in 1769. Unfortunately a large part of the impression was destroyed in a fire which took place at the Bible Warehouse in Paternoster Row, and copies are now scarce. Blayney received much assistance in his Hebrew studies from the celebrate William Newcome, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, who was also a fellow of Hertford, and to whom he dedicated several of his works. In 1775 he published 'A Dissertation by way of Inquiry into the true Import and Application of the Vision related, Dan. ix. 24 to the End, usually called Daniel's Prophecy of Seventy Weeks.' This work attracted considerable attention, and was translated into German by the celebrated J. D. Michaelis. A corrected edition was published by the author in 1797. In 1784 Blayney published a new translation of Jeremiah and Lamentations, and in 1786 and 1788 two sermons on 'The Sign given to Ahaz,' and on 'Christ the greater Glory of the Temple.' He was appointed regius professor of Hebrew in 1787, and in the same year was made canon of Christ Church and received the degree of D.D. In 1790 he published an edition of the Hebrew-Samaritan Pentateuch, transcribed in ordinary Hebrew characters, with critical notes. His last production was a new translation of the prophecy of Zechariah, 1797. Dr. Blayney's writings, though deficient in literary ability, display what for their time and country may be considered a high degree of Hebrew scholarship. Like his friend Archbishop Newcome, and many other eminent biblical scholars of the period in England, he did not escape the imputation of heterodoxy, and was the object of several very acrimonious attacks, from which he defended himself with exemplary fairness and courtesy. He died at his rectory of Poulshot, Wiltshire, on 20 Sept. 1801, aged 73. By his will he directed that his unpublished writings, after being submitted to the judgment of his friend and patron. Dr. Barrington, bishop of Durham, should be deposited in the archiepiscopal library at Lambeth. Amongst these manuscripts may be mentioned:
- 'A New Version of the Psalms,' 2 vols. 4to.
- 'Critical Comment on the Psalms,' 3 vols.
- 'Notes on Isaiah,' 3 vols.
[Gent. Mag. lxxi. 1054, lxxiii. 1108; Blayney's Preface to Dissertation on Dan. vii. 24.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.29
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 208 | i | 16 f.e. | Blayney, Benjamin: after He was insert in 1787 |
| 15 f.e. | omit in 1787 | ||
| 14 f.e. | omit in the same year was made |