Henry Drummond (1786–1860)

Henry Drummond (December 5, 1786 - February 20, 1860), English banker, politician and writer, best known as one of the founders of the Catholic Apostolic or Irvingite Church, was born at the Grange, near Alresford, Hampshire.

He was the eldest son of Henry Drummond, a prominent London banker, his mother being a daughter of the first Viscount Melville. He was educated at Harrow and at Christ Church, Oxford, but took no degree. His name is permanently connected with the University through the chair of political economy which he founded in 1825.

He entered Parliament in 1810, and took an active interest from the first in nearly all departments of politics. Thoroughly independent and often eccentric in his views, he yet acted generally with the Conservative party. His speeches were often almost inaudible but were generally lucid and informing, and on occasion caustic and severe.

From 1847 until his death he represented West Surrey in parliament. Drummond took a deep interest in religious subjects, and published numerous books and pamphlets on such questions as the interpretation of prophecy, the circulation of the Apocrypha and the principles of Christianity. These attracted considerable attention.

In 1817 he met Robert Haldane at Geneva, and continued his movement against the Socinian tendencies then prevalent in that city. In later years he was intimately associated with the origin and spread of the Catholic Apostolic Church. Meetings of those who sympathized with the views of Edward Irving were held for the study of prophecy at Drummond's seat, Albury Park, in Surrey; he contributed very liberally to the funds of the new church; and he became one of its leading office-bearers, being first ordained as Angel of the Congregation in Albury and afterwards called as Apostle for Scotland and the Protestant part of Switzerland. The numerous works he wrote in defence of its distinctive doctrines and practice were generally clear and vigorous, if seldom convincing.

References

*1911