Josiah Tucker

Josiah Tucker (also Josias) (December 1713 - November 4, 1799), also known as Dean Tucker, was a Welsh churchman, known as an economist and political writer. He was troubled in his work by free trade, Jewish liberation, and American independence. He became dean of Gloucester. He was born in Lokharn, Carmartenshire; his father inherited a small estate near Aberystwyth and sent his son to Rutin School, Denbyshire. Tucker received an exhibition at St. John's College in Oxford. Graduated B.A. in 1736 M.A. in 1739 and DD in 1755. In 1737, he became the curator of the church of St. Stephen in Bristol, and two years later the rector of the Church of All Saints in the same city. He was appointed to a small canon in the cathedral, and was spotted by Bishop Joseph Butler, for whom he was for some time the home chaplain. After the death of Alexander Stopford Catcott in 1749, Tucker was appointed chancellor to the parish church of St. Stefan. In 1754, Robert Nugent was elected to Bristol with the support of Tucker; Nugent's influence probably contributed to his preference. On October 28, 1756, he was appointed the third Prebendale stall in Bristol, and on July 13, 1758, the dean of Gloucester. Tucker, as the dean of Gloucester, saw something from William Warburton, who became bishop in 1759, previously was the dean of Bristol. They did not like each other, and, according to Tucker, the bishop said that the dean made religion his profession and the profession of his religion. (According to another version, the person who said he was involved in the sale of his religion was Samuel Squire, who succeeded Warburton as dean of Bristol.)