Wakefield , Gilbert , 1756-1801 , Unitarian and author

Gilbert Wakefield was born in Nottingham and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He became a fellow of the college in 1776, concentrating on Biblical studies. He was ordained in the Church of England, but gave up his curacy after a few years because of his disagreements with aspects of Anglican teaching, including the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and subsequently taught in several Unitarian schools. His speeches and writings gave him a reputation as a political and religious controversialist: he was opposed to slavery and to many of the policies of the Pitt government, but supported the French Revolution. Wakefield was imprisoned in Dorchester Gaol after writing an anti-government pamphlet in 1798; he died a few months after his release in 1801.