Benjamin Robinson

Benjamin Robinson
His first church in Findern (today)
Born	1666 Derby, Derbyshire
Died	1724
Education	Sheriff Hales, Shropshire
Occupation	Presbyterian minister
Spouse(s)	Anne
Children	several

Benjamin Robinson (1666–1724), an English Presbyterian church minister, born at Derby in 1666, was a pupil of Samuel Ogden (1626–1697). He came to be a respected theologian and had his views published. He started a school in Findern in south Derbyshire.

Benjamin was educated for the ministry by John Woodhouse at Sheriff Hales, Shropshire. He began life as chaplain and tutor in the family of Sir John Gell at Hopton, Derbyshire. He was subsequently chaplain at Normanton to Samuel Saunders, upon whose death he married and settled as Presbyterian minister of Findern, Derbyshire, being ordained on 10 October 1688.

In 1693 he opened a school at Findern, and for so doing was cited into the bishop's court. Knowing William Lloyd, then bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, he went to remonstrate with him. Lloyd stayed the prosecution, and discussed nonconformity with Robinson till two o'clock in the morning ; they afterwards corresponded. John Howe recommended him to a congregation at Hungerford, Berkshire, to which he removed from Findern in 1693. Here also, in 1696, he set up a school which developed into an academy for training ministers ; students were sent to him by the Presbyterian fund. It was his aim to inspire them with proper sentiments and dispositions to allure them to habits of study.

Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, being at Hungerford on a visitation, sent for Robinson, who defended his course and gained Burnet's friendship. Subsequently he and Edmund Calamy had several interviews with Burnet in 1702, when nonconformist matters were before parliament. It was said the "he could do as much in an hour as another man could in a day".