Author: Cumming, John
Biography:
CUMMING, John (1807-81: ODNB)
Born at Fintray, Aberdeenshire, to John Cumming and Anne (Mutch) Cumming, he was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen (1822-27). The Stabliad dates from his student days and seems to be his only book of verse. It was harshly criticised in the Aberdeen Censor (14 April 1825) and the poet’s family advised to set him to manual labour and deny him paper and ink for a year. Cumming’s unfortunate response was to send the paper another of his poems (“The Minstrel to his Harp”) which generated only more severe ridicule (Aberdeen Censor 28 April 1825). He subsequently moved to London where, on his ordination, he was appointed pastor of the Crown Court Presbyterian church at Covent Garden. He held this post for the remainder of his working life and was instrumental in establishing innovations including Sunday schools and ragged schools. He was known for his pamphlets on religious matters, his lectures, and, particularly, his preaching. In later life, he prophesied the second coming in 1867; his reputation was dinted when the year passed without such an event occurring. With his wife, Elizabeth Nicholson, he had eleven children. He died at Chiswick and is buried at Kensal Green. (ODNB 21 Sept 2018; ancestry.co.uk 21 Sept 2018; BBA) SR