Abraham Hume

Abraham Hume (1814–1884) was a Scots-Irish Anglican priest in Liverpool, known as a social researcher, supporter of learned societies, and antiquary,

Life The son of Thomas F. Hume, of Scottish descent, he was born at Hillsborough, County Down, on 9 February 1814. He was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy, Glasgow University, and Trinity College Dublin.

On leaving Trinity College, Hume was for some time a mathematics and English teacher, first in Belfast, and then at the Liverpool Institute and Liverpool Collegiate Institution. In 1843, he graduated B.A. at Dublin, and received the honorary degree of LL.D. at the University of Glasgow. In the same year he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Chester, and after serving as curate for four years without stipend at St. Augustine's, Liverpool, was appointed in 1847 vicar of the new parish of Vauxhall there.

Hume took part in most of the public, scientific, educational, and ecclesiastical events in Liverpool. In 1848, with Joseph Mayer and Henry Clark Pidgeon, he established the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, of which he was a mainstay for many years. He began close social and statistical inquiries in some of the Liverpool parishes. During 1857 and 1858, he sent to The Times summaries of his previous year's work in his parish. In 1858 and 1859, he gave evidence before select committees of the House of Lords, first on divine worship in populous places, and secondly on church rates.

Hume died unmarried on 21 November 1884, and was buried at Anfield cemetery, Liverpool.

Works Hume wrote more than a hundred books and pamphlets. They included:

The Learned Societies and Printing Clubs of the United Kingdom, London, 1847, an enlarged edition in 1853. Sir Hugh of Lincoln, London, 1849. Remarks on Certain Implements of the Stone Period, 1851. Two essays on 'Spinning and Weaving, 1857. Condition of Liverpool, Religious and Social, Liverpool, 1858. Miscellaneous Essays contributed to the "Ulster Journal of Archæology", 1860. Rabbin's Olminick (Belfast dialect), 1861–3. Ancient Meols, or some Account of the Antiquities found on the Seacoast of Cheshire, London, 1863. Examination of the Changes in the Seacoast of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1866. Facts and Suggestions connected with Primary Education, Liverpool, 1870. Origin and Characteristics of the People in the Counties of Down and Antrim, Belfast, 1874. Remarks on the Irish Dialect of the English Language, 1878. Some Scottish Grievances, 1881. Detailed Account of how Liverpool became a Diocese, London, 1881.