Giles Firmin
Giles Firmin was a 17th-century English physician and pastor, born in Ipswich, England, in 1615. He briefly attended Cambridge University but left without a degree, embarking on a journey to New England in 1632 with John Wilson. After returning to England the following year, he traveled again to America in 1637, where he became involved in church discussions as a note-taker and eventually settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. There, he practiced medicine and married the daughter of a local reverend. Firmin later held the position of clerk in Ipswich and experienced a shipwreck on a return trip to England in 1644, which delayed his return for a year. In 1646, he settled in Colchester and became a pastor in Shalford in 1651, serving the congregation for eleven years before moving to Ridgewell to continue his practice and preaching. Although not a prolific author, his most notable work, "The Real Christian," was published in 1670 and has been reprinted many times. Firmin spent his later years in Ridgewell, where he died in 1697.
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Giles Firmin
Writer
- Born: 1615
- Birthplace: Ipswich, England
- Died: April 1, 1697
- Place of death: Ridgewell, England
Biography
Giles Firmin was born in Ipswich, England, in 1615. In 1629 Firmin attended Cambridge University, and though he studied for a few years, Firmin left the University without earning his degree. In 1632 Firmin decided to travel to New England with a man by the name of John Wilson. Firmin settled for a short period of time, but he decided to return to his native home in 1633, less than a year later. In 1637 Firmin once again decided to travel to America, this time under the employment of a man named John Higginson. His job was to take notes during meetings and discussions of the synod, a council made up of church officials.
He decided to settle in Ipswich, Massachusetts where he took a job practicing medicine. While living in Ipswich, Firmin married the daughter of a local reverend. He was given a position as a clerk in Ipswich from 1641 until 1642. Two years later Firmin attempted to sail back to England. The ship was wrecked off the coast of Spain, and Firmin did not return to England until a year later. In 1646, he settled in Colchester, and years later in 1651 he became the pastor at a church in Shalford. He served the congregation for eleven years and later moved to Ridgewell, where he practiced medicine and preached. Firmin was not known to be a prolific writer of poetry or novels. He did, however, pen and preach numerous sermons. The Real Christian, perhaps his most recognized work, was published in 1670. Since its original publication, the work has seen numerous reprints. Firmin lived the rest of his life quietly in Ridgewell, England, where he died in 1697.