Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Cave, Alfred
CAVE, ALFRED (1847–1900), congregational divine, born in London on 29 Aug. 1847, was the fourth son of Benjamin Cave by his wife, Harriet Jane, daughter of Samuel Hackett. He was educated at the Philological School, Marylebone Road, London, and originally intended to study medicine; but in 1866, having resolved to become a minister, he entered New College, London, whence he graduated B.A. at London University in 1870. On leaving New College in 1872, he became minister at Berkhampstead, when he removed in 1876 to Watford. In 1880 he resigned his pastorate, and became professor of Hebrew and church history at Hackney College. Two years later he was appointed principal and professor of apologetical, doctrinal, and pastoral theology, offices which he retained until his death. In 1888 he was chosen congregational union lecturer, taking as his subject 'The Inspiration of the Old Testament inductively considered' (London, 1888, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1889). In 1889 he received the honorary degree of D.D, from the university of St. Andrews.
In 1888 and 1898 Cave was chairman of the London board of congregational ministers, and in 1893–4 he was merchants' lecturer. He was also a director of the London Missionary Society and of the Colonial Missionary Society. He died on 19 Dec. 1900 at Hackney College House, Hampstead, and was buried on 24 Dec. In 1873 he married Sarah Rebecca Hallifax Fox, who survived him.
Besides the work already mentioned Cave was the author of: 1. 'The Scriptural Doctrine of Sacrifice and Atonement,' Edinburgh, 1877, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1890. 2. 'An Introduction to Theology,' Edinburgh, 1885, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1896. 3. 'The Battle of the Stand-points, the Old Testament and the Higher Criticism,' London, 1890, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1892. 4. 'The Spiritual World: the last Word of Philosophy and the first Word of Christ,' London, 1894, 8vo. 5. 'The Story of the Founding of Hackney College,' London, 1898, 8vo. He also assisted in translating Dorner's 'Glaubenslehre,' 1880–2, 4 vols., for Clark's 'Foreign Theological Library.'
[Times, 20 Dec. 1900; Who's Who. 1901.]