Benjamin Grosvenor

Benjamin Grosvenor D.D. (also Gravenor or Gravener; 1 January 1676 – 27 October 1758) was an English dissenting minister.

Life He was born in London on 1 January 1676; his father, Charles Gravener, a prosperous upholsterer, lived at the Black Swan on Watling Street. However, Charles experienced financial difficulties later in life and was supported by his son. In 1710, his son altered the spelling of his name to Gravenor, and later to Grosvenor (first used in 1712, but not finally adopted until 1716).

He was deeply influenced by a sermon he heard at Gravel Lane Southwark. At the age of 14, he was baptized by Benjamin Keach and subsequently admitted to his Particular Baptist congregation in Goat Yard Passage, Horselydown. Keach then encouraged him to pursue ministry.

In 1693, Gravener was enrolled at Attercliffe Academy under the guidance of Timothy Jollie. During his time there, Grosvenor's religious views shifted towards Presbyterianism, particularly concerning ordination practices. Upon returning to London in 1695, he studied under private tutors and learned Hebrew from Cappel, a Huguenot refugee. However, he was eventually dismissed from membership of his Baptist church.

Early career In 1699, Grosvenor underwent examination and licensing by seven Presbyterian ministers, including Robert Fleming the younger, and became assistant to Joshua Oldfield at Globe Alley in Maid Lane, Southwark. The following year, he was considered for the succession to Matthew Mead in the Independent congregation at Stepney. However, his excommunication by the Baptists may have influenced his chances for this position. His later assistants included John Barker (1708–14), Clerk Oldisworth (1715–26), and lastly Edmund Calamy IV (1726–49).

He left a bequest to the Presbyterian Fund, and his library to Warrington Academy.

Of Grosvenor's other publications, Walter Wilson enumerated 27, most of them single sermons, including funeral sermons. Among them were: The Mourner, 1731; 18th edition, 1804. Health, an Essay on its Nature, 1716, 2nd edition, 1748.

His Sermons, now first collected in a volume (1809) were edited by John Davies, with preface by David Bogue.

Family By his first marriage (1703) to Mary South (died November 1707), daughter of Captain Henry South of Bethnal Green, Grosvenor had a son, Benjamin South Grosvenor, who died many years before his father, and a daughter, who died in infancy.

By his second marriage (1712) to Elizabeth Prince he had four sons; only the youngest survived him.