WILLIAM DENTON

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 December 1883, Page 14

WILLIAM DENTON

From a sketch by D.M. Bennett,in his work 'The World's Sages, Thinkers and Reformers,' we gather the following particulars concerning Professor Denton, whe died of fever in New Guinea :

"This courageous geologist and Radical," says his biographer, "was born at Darlington, Durham county, England, on the Bth January, 823. William's father was quite poor, and igonrant of all scholarship, but a true, sturdy, industrious woolcomber, and had to support a family of four children on 10s a week. At the age of eight William Denton was placed at a day school, in which the tutor gave experiments with a galvanic battery, besides giving " practical lessons in phrenology and electricity." At this stage of his career William commenced his studies in geology, reading closely on the subject, and preparing, hammer in hand, for future researches. " When eleven years old he was hired by a currier of Darlington for a year at half crown a week. After serving his time in the currier's shop, he was employed 3 months by a Methodist minister in a grocery store. This situation was highly satisfactory to his father, who was a firm Methodist. William, one day, however, detected his master giving false weight, by placing a piece of lead on the scale. He told his father, who went to the Methodist minister grocer," and after denouncing his dishonesty, took the boy away from his service. After leaving the grocery business, William was sent to the Darlington Grammar School, where he acquired the rudiments of Greek and Latin. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to Timothy Hackworth, at Shilden, to learn the trade of machinist. Working during the day he did not waste his leisure hours at night, and read the works of Lyell, attended scientific lectures, and became a member of the Mechanics' Institute. He also pursued his geological studies in a railway tunnel near Shilden. At 16 he joined the Methodist Association Church, and within a year after commenced lecturing on Temperance and giving addresses on religion in Sunday School. He soon became an adept at speaking, taking part in theological debates and addressing meetings in farm kitchens or on the open gieen. At length he got hold of Combe's "Constitution of Man." The minister said to him, " William, that is a ver} dangerous book," and proceeded to prove the statement by citing Combe's illustration of the two boats. Denton, however, continued studying Combe, and found the illustration of the boats true, and straightway began to manifest heresy in his speeches. He was now 19, and still with Timothy Hackworth. One day his master told him to go to a brewery to repair some machinery. This would conflict with his radical temperance principles, and he spoke to Hackworth about having conscientious scruples. Hackworth sneered at " conscience," and sent Denton away. He next tried teaching in a school at Newport, He also lectured on Temperance, and preached frequently in London. He often used to walk 12 miles to Cardiff on Saturday, preach three times on Sunday and walk back on Monday morning in time for school. At this time he was one of the most active

fighters for Temperance in England. He continued lecturing on Temperance, Mesmerism, and Radicalism, until he made many enemies, and was dismissed from the school. He had to sell his books to prevent starvation, and emigrated to America. He landed in Philadelphia in 1848, His life in the United States continued to be a series of struggles. During the latter years of his life he continued to lecture and write principally in New England. A series of his discourses are published. He has established a reputation as a geologist, and was reckoned amongst the ablest advocates of Spiritualism.