Alexander Gordon (9 June 1841 – 21 February 1931) was an English Unitarian minister and

religious historian The history of religion refers to the written record of human religious feelings, thoughts, and ideas. This period of religious history begins with the invention of writing about 5,200 years ago (3200 BC). The prehistory of religion involves th ...

. A prolific contributor to the ''

Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'', he wrote for it well over 700 articles dealing mainly with

nonconformist Nonconformity or nonconformism may refer to: Culture and society * Insubordination, the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior *Dissent, a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or entity ** ...

Life

Gordon was born in Coventry, the son of John Gordon, a Unitarian minister. He was an undergraduate at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

from 1856 to 1859, then trained at Manchester New College in London, and studied under

Ignaz von Döllinger Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger (; 28 February 179914 January 1890), also Doellinger in English, was a German theologian, Catholic priest and church historian who rejected the dogma of papal infallibility. Among his writings which proved con ...

in Munich. He was a minister at Aberdeen, at

Hope Street Unitarian Chapel Hope Street Chapel was a Unitarian place of worship in Liverpool, England. It stood on Hope Street next to the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, about halfway between the Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals. The congregation had previously been based ...

in Liverpool alongside

Charles Wicksteed Charles Wicksteed (1810–1885) was a Unitarian minister, part of the tradition of English Dissenters. Early life and education Charles Wicksteed was born in Shrewsbury; his father was a manufacturer and his mother was descended from the great di ...

, and at the

Octagon Chapel, Norwich The Octagon Chapel is a Unitarian Chapel located in Colegate in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The congregation is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. History The chapel is a grade II* listed building. Comple ...

, before settling in Belfast in 1877 at its First Presbyterian Church. He was Principal of the

Unitarian Home Missionary College Unitarian College Manchester is one of two Unitarian seminaries in England. It is based at Luther King House in the Brighton Grove area of Manchester, and its degrees are validated by the University of Manchester. It prepares students for minist ...

, Manchester, from 1890 to 1911.

Notes

1841 births 1931 deaths People from Coventry Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 19th-century British historians English Unitarian ministers Historians of Puritanism Irish non-subscribing Presbyterian ministers Alumni of Harris Manchester College, Oxford 20th-century British historians {{England-historian-stub