Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 08.djvu/239

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torical Account of my own Life, with some Reflections on the Times I have lived in,’ though quoted by Kippis, was first edited by John Towill Rutt in 2 vols. 1829, 8vo, 2nd ed. 1830, from two transcripts of Calamy's autograph, one of which, in three folio volumes, had been collated with the original by his son Edmund; Rutt, in his preface, speaks of having ‘endeavoured to exercise a discretion,’ which James (Hist. Litigation Presb. Chapels and Charities, 1867, p. 724) interprets as referring to omissions from the text; in point of fact there is one omission, referring to a family circumstance of no public interest; among the Calamy papers are three successive revisions of the autobiography, in Calamy's autograph, not seen by Rutt. Mayo's Funeral Sermon, 1732; Biog. Brit. 1784, iii. 140 (article by Dr. John Campbell, additions by Kippis); Hunter's Life of Oliver Heywood, 1842, p. 137, seq.; James, ut sup. p. 628; baptismal and burial registers of St. Mary Aldermanbury, per Rev. C. C. Collins; authorities quoted above.]

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.]

CALCOTT. [See also Callcott.]

CALCOTT, WELLINS (fl. 1756–1769), author, was a native of Shropshire, the son of a member of the corporation of Shrewsbury. All that is known of his personal history is gathered from the preface to one of his books, from which it appears that he was induced to become an author by reverses of fortune. He published two books by subscription, and was enabled thereby to make advances towards a restoration of a settled life. The first edition of his ‘Thoughts, Moral and Divine,’ was issued in London in 1756. A second edition was brought out at Birmingham in 1758; a third at Coventry in 1759; a fourth at Manchester in 1761; and a fifth at Exeter in 1764. In 1769 he published ‘A Candid Disquisition of the Principles and Practices of the most ancient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons,’ London, 8vo. This work is said to have been the means of leading many persons to join the society. It was reprinted in 1847 by Dr. George Oliver, who considered it the ‘gem of the period’ in which it was written.

[Notes and Queries, 4th ser. ii. 9; Oliver's Golden Remains of the Early Masonic Writers, vol. ii. 1847; Oliver's Revelations of a Square, 1855, p. 118; Temperance Spectator, 1866, p. 181.]

CALCRAFT, Sir GRANBY THOMAS (1770–1820), colonel, was the younger son of John Calcraft [q. v.] of Rempston Hall in the isle of Purbeck, politician, and younger brother of John Calcraft (1765–1831) [q. v.], and was born in 1770. He entered the army as a cornet in the 15th light dragoons in March