author
John Foster
1770–1843
Best known as the “Essayist,” this English Baptist minister wrote reflective, morally serious prose that made him a respected voice in early 19th-century religious and literary circles. His essays and criticism were widely read, especially for their thoughtful style and strong sense of conviction.
1 Audiobook
An Essay on the Evils of Popular Ignorance
by John Foster
About the author
Born near Halifax, Yorkshire, on September 17, 1770, he was raised in a Baptist family and trained for the ministry at Bristol. He served as a minister for several years, but he became better known for his writing than for pastoral work.
His reputation rests chiefly on his essays, especially Essays, in a Series of Letters (1804), and on his many contributions to the Eclectic Review. Writing in a serious, meditative voice, he explored religion, character, public life, and moral responsibility, and he came to be widely known simply as "the Essayist."
He died near Bristol in October 1843. Reliable sources confirm his importance as an English Baptist minister and essayist, but I could not confirm a suitable portrait image from the pages I checked, so no author photo is included here.