Biography

James Hervey was born in England in 1714. He would become a Calvinistic minister in the Anglican Church. His writings would intersect the art world. Educated at Oxford and influenced by Wesley and the Methodists, he would care for his flock as their parish priest. His real passion was for writing. Meditations and Contemplations was one of his earliest works. In 1755, he published Theron and Aspasio, which was a compilation of letters written on various subjects. Some saw them as an apologetic for antinomianism. William Blake created masterpieces of artwork based on the writings of Hervey. Harvey died on Christmas Day in 1758. Works (1797) and Collection of the Letters of James Hervey (1760), with a biography written by Thomas Birch, were published posthumously.

Wailand Groenendyk
CCEL Staff Writer