William Godwin

1756-1836. English political thinker, novelist, playwright and historian.

Life

William Godwin was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 3 March 1756, as the seventh of thirteen children of John Godwin, a dissenting minister, and Anne Godwin, daughter of ship owner Richard Hull. For most of William's youth, the family lived in Guestwick, near Norwich, Norfolk. As a young boy, he already was a religious enthusiast and dissenter, preaching to his fellow school children. From 1767-1770, he was educated by Samuel Newton, who was strongly influenced by the teachings of hyper Calvinist Robert Sandeman.

As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk.