Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 04.djvu/246

Bennett to the Constance of Miss Fanny Kemble. At Covent Garden he remained through the successive managements of Charles Kemble, Laporte, and Macready, playing such characters as Grindoff in the 'Miller and his Men,' Macduff, Master Walter in the 'Hunchback,' and Caliban in Macready's revival of the 'Tempest,' October 1838. He accompanied Macready to Drury Lane, and remained with him till the close of his management, from 4 Oct. 1841 to 14 June 1843. On 27 May 1844 Phelps and Greenwood began their memorable campaign at Sadler's Wells. Bennett joined them, remaining with them during the eighteen years over which the management extended, and playing Sir Toby Belch, Pistol, Bessus in Beaumont and ifietcher's 'A King and No King,' Enobarbus in 'Antony and Cleopatra,' Bosola in 'Duchess of Malfi,' altered from Webster by R. H. Horne, Antonio in the 'Merchant of Venice,' Henry VIII, Apemantus in 'Timon of Athens,' Fenton in 'John Savile of Hasted,' Douglass in 'Feudal Times,' &c. When Phelps retired (1802) from the management of Sadler's Wells, Bennett left the stage. Some time subsequently he was, it is stated, established in Chepstow as a photographer. Bennett was a trustworthy actor, but barely rose into the second rank. His daughter, Miss Julia Bennett, has played with success at minor theatres. A five-act play by Bennett, entitled 'Retribution, or Love's Trials,' was successfully produced at Sadler's Wells on 11 Feb. 1850, the principal parts being supported by Phelps, Henry Marston, A. Younge, the author, and Miss Glyn. Bennett also wrote a drama called the 'Justiza,' produced by Miss Cushman at Birmingham. He died on 21 Sept. 1879, and was buried at Nunhead Cemetery.

 BENNETT, JAMES (1785–1856), topographer, was born at Falfield in the parish of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, on 10 May 1785, and carried on the business of a printer and bookseller at Tewkesbury from 1810 till 1852, when he retired with a competent independence. He wrote the 'History of Tewkesbury' (Tewkesbury, 1830, 8vo), and abridged it in the form of a 'Guide' (1835). In 1830 he brought out the first part of the 'Tewkesbury Register and Magazine,' a useful periodical which was continued in annual numbers till 1849. He died at Tewkesbury on 29 Jan. 1856.

 BENNETT, JAMES, D.D. (1774–1862), congregational minister, was born in London 22 May 1774, and educated there and at Gosport, where he was prepared for the ministry of the independent church under the Rev. Dr. Bogue. In 1797 he was ordained at Romsey, where he remained till 1813. While there he became an ardent supporter of the London Missionary Society, preaching the annual sermon on its behalf in 1804. He saw the first missionary ship, the Duff, sail from Spithead for foreign lands, and at home he was a coadjutor of Robert and James Haldane in some of their evangelistic tours. He removed in 1813 to Rotherham, where he was both tutor in the college and pastor of the church. In 1828 he was transferred to London, where, first in Silver Street and then in Falcon Square, he exercised his ministry till 1860, when he resigned. He died in London, 4 Dec. 1862, at the age of eighty-eight.

Bennett enjoyed in an unusual degree the esteem and confidence of his friends for the consistency of his character, the loftiness or his aims, the excellence of his judgment, and the laborious diligence which he exhibited as a minister and a supporter of all good public movements. Among the special objects to which he applied himself were the defence of christianity against the unbelievers of the day, especially against a certain Mr. R. Taylor, a popular lecturer; the promotion of christian missions, and the advancement of the Congregational Union. As one of the secretaries of the London Missionary Society he came much into contact with its missionaries, both while they were prosecuting their studies and after they engaged in active work. Among those who in their younger days were members of his church was David Livingstone, who spent some time in London after leaving Scotland, chiefly in medical study.

Bennett was a voluminous author. The following are his principal works: 1. 'Memoirs of Risdon Darracott, of Wellington, Somerset' (whose granddaughter, Sarah Cowley, he married in 1797). 2. 'The History of Dissenters' from A.D. 1688 to 1808, in conjunction with Rev. Dr. Bogue (2nd ed. London, 1833, 3 vols.) 3. 'Lectures on the History of Christ,' 3 vols. 4. 'Memoirs of the Rev. Dr. Bogue.' 5. 'Lectures on the Preaching of Christ.' 6. Congregational lectures on 'The Theology of the Early Christian Church.' 7. 'Justification as revealed in Scripture.' 8. 'Lectures on the