John Evans 1679/80-1730

John EVANS 1679/80-1730

Biographical Note

Born at Wrexham, son of John Evans, nonconformist minister. He was educated at several dissenting academies before being ordained a presbyterian minister in 1702. He served briefly in Wrexham before moving to London in 1704 as an assistant to Daniel Williams; he took over his Westminster congregation when he died in 1716. He published numerous sermons and is noted as a popular preacher; he was awarded a DD degree by Edinburgh University in 1728. In his later years he had financial troubles, following the loss of investments in the South Sea Bubble.

Books

Evans's ODNB entry notes his library of over 10,000 volumes, and his intentions (unfulfilled) to complete a history of nonconformity in Britain. His library was auctioned in London, beginning 17 December 1730.

Sources

• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bibliotheca rarissima: or, a catalogue of the library of ... Dr. John Evans, [London, 1730].
• Vian, Alsager, and S. J. Skedd. "Evans, John (1679/80–1730), Presbyterian minister and historian." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.