Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 54.djvu/424

 to him are in Mr. Gosse's edition of Gray's ‘Works,’ ii. 277–9, 373–5, iii. 46–8, 342, 351 (, Literary Anecdotes, viii. 568).

[Leslie and Taylor's Sir Joshua Reynolds, ii. 146; Corresp. of Gray and Mason, p. v; Gent. Mag. 1769 p. 559, 1809 pt. i. p. 188; Gray's Works, ed. Gosse, ii. 197–8, 241, 395, iii. 317, 322; Gray's Works, ed. Mathias, pp. 585–6, 589; Walpole's Letters, ed. Cunningham, v. 117, 128, 501, viii. 229; Surtees's Durham, i. 157; information from the Earl of Jersey and Mr. W. Aldis Wright.] 

STONHOUSE, JAMES (1716–1795), baronet, physician, and divine, was the eldest son of Richard and Caroline Stonhouse of Tubney, near Abingdon, Berkshire, and was descended from the third baronet of the house. His father died about 1725; the mother lived for many years later. From them he inherited an estate worth about 200l. per annum. Stonhouse was born at Tubney on 20 July 1716. In 1722 he was at Merchant Taylors' school, and he was afterwards at Winchester College. He matriculated from St. John's College, Oxford, on 15 Jan. 1732–3, and graduated B.A. 1736, M.A. 1739, M.B. 1742, and M.D. January 1745–6. His medical teacher was Frank Nicholls [q. v.]; he attended the school at St. Thomas's Hospital, and then went abroad, where he studied medicine at Paris, Lyons, Montpellier, and Marseilles. On his return he settled for a year at Coventry, and while there married, in May 1742, Anne, eldest daughter of John Neale of Allesley, M.P. for Coventry and a maid of honour to Queen Caroline (Gent. Mag. 1742, p. 274). In April 1743 he removed to Northampton, and practised there for twenty years. His success was great, and Akenside fruitlessly tried in June 1744 to wrest his practice from him (, Poets, ed. Cunningham, iii. 378). This act did not put an end to their friendship, for Akenside, when withdrawing to Hampstead, carried with him an introduction from his rival (Gent. Mag. 1793, ii. 885). Though an absolute stranger to the place, Stonhouse succeeded in about four months after his arrival in founding the county infirmary at Northampton. He compiled the statutes for its government, and continued for many years its physician. In 1766 he drew up ‘the statutes and rules for the general infirmary at Salisbury,’ which were several times printed. In early life he was ‘extremely licentious both in principles and practice,’ but soon after coming to Northampton a close friendship with Philip Doddridge and James Hervey led to his conversion. He had published a pamphlet against Christianity which had passed through two editions; the third he now burnt.

According to one account the change followed the hearing by Stonhouse of a funeral sermon which Doddridge preached on one of Stonhouse's patients. He was favourably influenced by the sermon, and Doddridge's ‘Rise and Progress of Religion’ was written to complete the good work. There is perhaps better ground for believing that the friendship was originally sought by Doddridge (, Corresp. of Doddridge, iv. 334–8). The first wife of Stonhouse died in her twenty-fifth year at Northampton on 1 Dec. 1747, leaving two surviving children. Several letters on her loss, which completed her husband's conversion, are printed in Hervey's ‘Letters,’ 1760, pp. 194–9 (cf., Meditations).

Stonhouse now meditated taking orders in the English church, and in October 1748 Doddridge, without his knowledge, wrote to Lord-chancellor Hardwicke asking for some preferment for him should he take that step. The chancellor replied with politeness, but declined to give any pledge (, Life of Hardwicke, ii. 372–8). By this time he was known to George Whitefield, but was timorous and afraid of being classed among Whitefield's followers. After much hesitation he was ordained deacon in September 1749 by the bishop of Hereford in Hereford Cathedral, and a week later priest by the bishop of Bristol in Bristol Cathedral. For several years after this he remained at Northampton and practised in medicine. In 1758 he attended Hervey in his last illness.

In May 1764 Stonhouse was appointed by Lord Radnor to the rectory of Little Cheverell, near Devizes, Wiltshire, where he made at his own cost considerable improvements to the parsonage-house, and from December 1779 he held with it the adjoining rectory of Great Cheverell. He spent most of the year at Bristol for the sake of its waters. In 1788 he took up his residence permanently at Hotwells. There he preached, without stipend, as lecturer in the church of All Saints, and subsequently for five years at St. Werburgh's. He continued until the year of his death to minister occasionally at Bath and Bristol. Samuel Curwen praised his ‘discourse serious and sensible, and his delivery with becoming energy’ (Journal, p. 154), and Polwhele admired the ‘fine inflexion of a voice distinct and sweet’ (English Orator, bk. iv.); but his egotism and love of flattery were excessive. He was once reproved by Garrick for his faults of manner while ministering in church. Stonhouse advised Hannah More as to her reading, and figures as Mr.