William Shepherd (minister)

William Shepherd (11 October 1768 – 21 July 1847) was an English dissenting minister and politician, known also as a poet and writer.

He was born in Liverpool on 11 October 1768. His father, a tradesman, took an active part in local politics, and was a freeman; he died in 1772. His mother, Elizabeth (died 1787), was daughter of Benjamin Mather, dissenting minister at Over Darwen. Under the supervision of his uncle, Tatlock Mather (died 1785), minister of a presbyterian (Unitarian) congregation at Rainford, near Prescot, William was successively educated: at Holden's academy near Rainford from 1776 to 1782; by Philip Holland from 1782 to 1785; at Daventry Academy from 1785 to 1788 under Thomas Belsham; and at New College, Hackney, from 1788 to 1790 under Belsham, Andrew Kippis, and Richard Price. On the completion of his academic course in 1790 he became tutor to the sons of the Rev. John Yates of Toxteth Park chapel, Liverpool, one of whom being the future Unitarian minister James Yates.

While a tutor Shepherd met William Roscoe, a significant influence; and became one of the group of reformers around Roscoe, known by Tory opponents as "Liverpool Jacobins", that included also James Currie, William Rathbone, and William Smyth, as well as his employer John Yates. the "Roscoe Circle" also brought William Hazlitt as an acquaintance (who painted his portrait). In 1791 Shepherd became minister of the presbyterian (Unitarian) chapel at Gateacre, near Liverpool. There he opened a school, which he carried on with success; its pupils included three future members of parliament (Benjamin Gaskell, Daniel Gaskell, and John Ashton Yates).

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