Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Walter, Henry
WALTER, HENRY (1785–1859), divine and antiquary, born at Louth in Lincolnshire on 28 Jan. 1785, was the eldest son of James Walter, master of the grammar school at Louth and afterwards rector of Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. He was admitted to St. John's College, Cambridge, on 1 March 1802, and graduated B.A. in 1806, being classed as second wrangler in the mathematical tripos. He was also junior Smith's prizeman. He was elected fellow and tutor of his college, retaining his fellowship until his marriage in 1824; commenced M. A. in 1809; and proceeded to the degree of B.D. in 1816. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 11 Nov. 1819. On the foundation of Haileybury College in 1806 he was appointed professor of natural philosophy, and retained the post until 1830, when he entered on the spiritual duties of the rectory of Haselbury Bryant in Dorset, to which he had been instituted on 7 May 1821 on the presentation of the Duke of Northumberland, who had been one of his pupils at Cambridge. He died at Haselbury Bryant on 25 Jan. 1859, and was buried in the churchyard of the parish. In 1824 he was married to Emily Anne, daughter of William Baker of Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire.
For the Parker Society he edited three volumes of William Tyndale's writings, viz. 'Doctrinal Treatises, and Introductions to different portions of the Holy Scriptures,' 1848; 'Expositions and Notes on sundry portions of the Holy Scriptures,' 1849; and 'An Answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue,' 1850. He likewise brought out an edition of 'The Primer . . . set forth by the order of King Edward VI,' London, 1825, 12mo.
Among his own writings are: 1. 'Lectures on the Evidences in favour of Christianity and the Doctrines of the Church of England,' London, 1816, 12mo. 2. 'A Letter [and a second Letter] to the Right Rev. Herbert [Marsh], Lord Bishop of Peterborough, on the Independence of the authorised Version of the Bible,' London, 1823-1828, 8vo. 3. 'The Connexion of Scripture History made plain for the Young by an Abridgment of it,' London, 1840, 12mo. 4. 'A History of England, in which it is intended to consider Man and Events on Christian Principles,' London, 1840, 7 vols. 12mo. 5. 'On the Antagonism of various Popish Doctrines and Usages to the Honour of God and to His Holy Word,' London, 1853, 16mo.
[Hutchins's Hist, of Dorset, 1861, i. 278, 280; Gent. Mag. 1859, i. 326; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. (Bohn), p. 2826, Suppl. p. 57; Bodleian Cat.; Graduati Cantabr.]