# Joseph Towers

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{{Short description|English Dissenter and biographer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
'''Joseph Towers''' (31 March 1737 – 20 May 1799) was an [English](/source/English_people) [Dissenter](/source/Dissenter) and biographer.
thumb|Joseph Towers, (1737-1799), of Southwark, London, Dissenter and biographer.

==Life and work==
He was born in [Southwark](/source/Southwark) on 31 March 1737. His father was a secondhand bookseller, and at the age of 12 he was employed as a stationer's errand boy. In 1754 he was apprenticed to [Robert Goadby](/source/Robert_Goadby) of [Sherborne](/source/Sherborne), [Dorset](/source/Dorset), a [Whig](/source/Whig_(British_political_party)) supporter, and influential through his newspaper, the ''[Sherborne Mercury](/source/Sherborne_Mercury)''. At [Sherborne](/source/Sherborne_School) Towers learned Latin and Greek, and became a supporter of Goadby's [Arian](/source/Arian) theology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/The-Sherborne-Register-Fourth-Edition-1550-1950-word-resized.pdf|title=''The Sherborne Register 1550-1950''|publisher=Old Shirbirnian Society|accessdate=16 February 2019}}</ref>

Coming to London in 1764, he worked as a [journeyman](/source/journeyman) printer, began to write [political pamphlets](/source/pamphlet), and set up a bookseller's shop in Fore Street about 1765. Goadby employed him as editor of the ''British Biography'' (from the date of [John Wycliffe](/source/John_Wycliffe)), and the first seven volumes, were compiled by him between 1766 and 1772, on the basis of the ''[Biographia Britannica](/source/Biographia_Britannica)'' (1747–1766) but containing much original work, the fruit of research at the [British Museum](/source/British_Museum).

In 1774 he gave up business, was ordained as a [Dissenting](/source/English_Dissenters) minister, and became pastor of the [Presbyterian](/source/English_Presbyterianism) congregation in Southwood Lane, [Highgate](/source/Highgate). He became associated with [Andrew Kippis](/source/Andrew_Kippis) in the new edition of the ''Biographia Britannica'', 1778–93, where his contributions are signed "T". The opening of a rival meeting-house in Southwood Lane (1778) had drawn away many of his hearers. Towers left Highgate to become forenoon preacher at [Newington Green Unitarian Church](/source/Newington_Green_Unitarian_Church) in 1778, as coadjutor to [Richard Price](/source/Richard_Price). On 19 November 1779 he received the diploma of [LLD](/source/LL.D.) from the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh). From 1790 to 1799 he was a trustee of [Daniel Williams's](/source/Daniel_Williams_(theologian)) foundations.

He continued to write pamphlets during his lifetime, and a collection was published by subscription, 1796, 8vo, 3 vols. His chief separate work was ''Memoirs of Frederick the Third of Prussia'' 1788, 2 vols (on [Frederick William II of Prussia](/source/Frederick_William_II_of_Prussia), with unconventional [regnal number](/source/regnal_number)ing). He died on 20 May 1799.

==Family==
He was married to a relative of [Caleb Fleming](/source/Caleb_Fleming). Joseph Lomas Towers (1767?–1831), his only son, was educated at [St. Paul's School](/source/St_Paul's_School_(London)) and [New College, Hackney](/source/New_College_at_Hackney) <!-- The date copied from the DNB seems preternaturally young: "(entered September 1768)".  -->. He preached as a [Unitarian](/source/Unitarianism) minister without charge, and in 1792 succeeded [Roger Flexman](/source/Roger_Flexman) as librarian of [Dr Williams's Library](/source/Dr_Williams's_Library); resigning this post in 1804, he led an eccentric life, busy with literary schemes, and collecting books and prints. He became insane in 1830, and died on 4 October 1831, at the White House, [Bethnal Green](/source/Bethnal_Green); he was buried in a vault at Elim Chapel, [Fetter Lane](/source/Fetter_Lane). He published ''Illustrations of Prophecy'' (1796), in two volumes, anonymously, and ''The Expediency of Cash-Payments by the [Bank of England](/source/Bank_of_England)'' (1811).

His younger brother was [John Towers](/source/John_Towers_(minister)) (1747?–1804), who became an independent minister and pastor of a secession from Jewin Street congregation.

==References==
<references />
*{{DNB|wstitle=Towers, Joseph}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Towers, Joseph}}
Category:1737 births
Category:1799 deaths
Category:People educated at Sherborne School
Category:English Dissenters
Category:English Unitarians
Category:English biographers
Category:English male non-fiction writers

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