Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Manning, Samuel (1822-1881)
MANNING, SAMUEL (1822–1881), baptist minister, was born at Leicester in 1822. His father, who was several times mayor of Leicester, acted for many years as churchwarden of St. Martin's in that town, but subsequently left the church of England, and with his family attended the ministry of Mr. Mursell, a well-known baptist preacher. After a short business career in Liverpool, Manning entered in 1840 the Baptist College at Bristol. In 1846, having completed his education at Glasgow University, he became a baptist minister at Sheppard's Barton, Frome, Somerset, where he remained until 1861. During his pastorate he contributed largely to denominational as well as to general literature, and was for some years editor of the 'Baptist Magazine.' In 1863 he became the general book editor of the Religious Tract Society, and when, in 1876, it was resolved that in future there should be two secretaries of the society, Manning was unanimously chosen one of them. He died at 35 Ladbroke Grove, London, on 13 Sept. 1881. He had frequently refused an offer of the degree of D.D., but a few years before his death he accepted the diploma of LL.D. from the university of Chicago.
Manning contributed to 'The Church' a series of papers called 'Infidelity tested by Fact,' reissued in book form in 1850; edited selections from the 'Prose Writings' of John Milton (1862); and projected the well-known series of illustrated books of travel published by the Religious Tract Society.
[Guardian, 21 Sept. 1881, p. 1309; Bookseller, 5 Oct. 1881, p. 885; Baptist Mag. lxxiii. 479.]