Robertson Frederick William

Robertson, Frederick William (1816-53), was born in London, and was intended by his father, an army captain, for the Church, though his own taste led him to prefer a military life. He was sent to Brasenose College, Oxford, and, graduating there, was ordained in 1840. He entered on his clerical career with characteristic fervour, his first curacy being at Winchester, but after a year's hard work he was obliged to go abroad to recruit his health. He was married on the Continent to a daughter of Sir G. W. Denys, and on his return became curate at Cheltenham, where he remained five years. During these years he read deeply, and all his writings are strongly tinged by his studies in theology, of which he may be considered an original exponent. His preaching was most impressive, and he was almost worshipped for his beautiful character. He finally settled in Brighton, where his zealous labours hastened his early death. During his last years he suffered agonies of mind and body. His highly poetical Sermons are and have been very widely read. In 1865 the Rev. Stopford Brooke published his Life and Letters, which went through several editions.