Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Calamy, Edmund (1697?-1755)
CALAMY, EDMUND (1697?–1755), dissenting minister, the eldest son of Edmund Calamy, D.D. (1671–1732) [q. v.] by his first wife, Mary Watts, was born in London (date not ascertained), and, after passing through Westminster School, entered the Edinburgh University in 1714, and graduated M.A. on 15 June 1717. From Edinburgh he went to Leyden, where he entered 29 Sept. 1717. For some time he assisted his father at Westminster, but in 1726 he was chosen to succeed Clark Oldisworth, as assistant to Benjamin Grosvenor, afterwards D.D., at Crosby Square. He was a member of the presbyterian board (1739–48), and a trustee of Dr. Williams's foundations from 1740 till his death. In 1749 Grosvenor resigned his charge, owing to advancing years, and simultaneously Calamy retired from the ministry. He died on 13 June 1755, and was buried on 17 June in the chancel of St. Mary Aldermanbury. His son Edmund (b. 18 May 1743), who entered Warrington academy in 1761 as a divinity student, removed to Cambridge in 1763, and became a barrister of Lincoln's Inn. He was a member of the presbyterian board, and a Williams' trustee (1784–1812). Thomas Emlyn of London, barrister (grandson of Thomas Emlyn, whose unitarian views E. Calamy, D.D., had controverted), by will dated 20 July 1796 left lands at Syddan, co. Meath, to ‘Edmond Calamy, Esq., senior.’ In 1812 Calamy the barrister left London. He died at Alphington, near Exeter, on 12 May 1816, aged seventy-three. His son, Edmund, died 27 Aug. 1850, aged seventy. His younger son Michael, the last of the direct Calamy line, lived a very secluded life at Exeter, in a house filled with the family books and papers. He was educated for the ministry at Wymondley, and under John Jervis at Lympstone, and was always called reverend, but it is not known that he ever was ordained or held any charge. Occasionally he preached for the unitarians, at Exeter and Topsham. He is the author of hymn 93 in the supplement (1823) to Kippis's collection. He bore a strong resemblance to the portraits of Edmund Calamy, B.D. He died unmarried, at Baring Crescent, Exeter, on 3 Jan. 1876, aged eighty-five.
[Calamy's Hist. Acct. of my own Life, 2nd ed. 1830, ii. 307, 489; Jeremy's The Presbyterian Fund and Dr. Williams's Trust, 1885, pp. 135, 171; Monthly Repos. 1814, p. 205, 1816, p. 300; James's Hist. Litig. Presb. Chapels and Charities, 1867, p. 668; Edinburgh Univ. records; burial reg. St. Mary Aldermanbury; will of T. Emlyn, in possession of H. L. Stronge; Calamy papers, manuscripts, in private hands.]