Andrew Fuller (1754-1815)
Artist unknown
Andrew Fuller was born on 6th February 1754 at Wicken, Cambridgeshire. It is said that as he was riding on a Saturday in November 1771, he was meditating upon a psalm and found himself thinking, “If anybody could hear me, I do think I could preach”, a thought that sparked the beginning of his lifelong career as an English Particular Baptist and avid theologian. His youth was struck by several afflictions, such as financial hardship and family bereavements. Still, his good friend John Ryland described these as allowing Fuller to discover “the most tender feeling”, deeply felt by those that went to hear Fuller preach. Fuller became the secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society at its formation in 1792, and his contribution to theology was recognised by the award of the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Princeton in 1798 and Yale in 1805. He has been described as one of the outstanding evangelical leaders of his day. Fuller died at his home, the Baptist manse, Kettering, on 7th May 1815 and was buried there on 15th May.