, was half brother, as abovementioned, to Henry Fielding, and his
, was half brother, as abovementioned, to Henry Fielding, and his successor in the
office of justice for Westminster, in which, though blind
from his youth, he acted with great sagacity and activity
for many years. He received the honour of knighthood
for his services in October, 1761, and died at Brompton in
September 1780. He published at various times, the following works: 1. “An account of the Origin and Effects
of a Police, set on foot by his grace the duke of Newcastle,
in the year 1753, upon a Plan presented to his grace by
the late Henry Fielding, esq. To which is added, a Plan
for preserving those deserted Girls in this Town who become Prostitutes from Necessity. 1768.
” This was a small
tract in 8vo. 2. “Extracts from such of the Penal Laws
as particularly relate to the Peace and good Order of the
Metropolis,
” The
Universal Mentor; containing, Essays on the most important Subjects in Life; composed of Observations, Sentiments, and Examples of Virtue, selected from the approved Ethic Writers, Biographers, and Historians, both
ancient and modern,
” A
Charge to the Grand Jury of Westminster,
” Another Charge to the Grand Jury
on a similar occasion,
” A brief Description of the Cities of London and Westminster, &c. To
which are added, some Cautions against the Tricks of
Sharpers,
” &c. Cautions,
”
and the use of his name was perhaps a bookseller’s trick.
It is most to the honour of sir John Fielding’s memory,
that he was a distinguished promoter of the Magdalen hospital, the Asylum, and the Marine Society.
the seventeenth century, was born at Fawsley in Northamptonshire, in what year is not mentioned. He was half brother to Dr. John Wilkins, bishop of Chester, by the
, a man of wit and learning in the seventeenth century, was born at Fawsley in Northamptonshire, in what year is not mentioned. He was half brother
to Dr. John Wilkins, bishop of Chester, by the mother’s
side. He was admitted of Trinity college, Cambridge, in
1645, but is supposed for some reason to have left that soon
for Wad ham college, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship, and took the degree of B. A. July 6, 1649. In
July 1651 the parliamentary visitors admitted him probationer fellow, although he, does not appear to have been of
their principles, and in the same month he commenced
master of arts. In 1658, while he served the office of
junior proctor, a controversy took place respecting the
wearing of caps and hoods, which the reigning party considered as reliques of popery, and therefore wished to aboJish the statute which enjoined them. This he contrived
to oppose with so much success that all the power of the
republicans was not sufficient to carry the point, and these
articles of dress continued to be worn until the restoration.
Of this affair, which he calls “the most glorious action of
his life,
” he has given a full account in his Life of Dr.
Ward, bishop of Salisbury, and expresses his displeasure
that Antony Wood should, in his “Annals,
” have passed
over an event so honourable to him.