# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harwood, Philip

​HARWOOD, PHILIP (1809–1887), journalist, was born at Bristol in 1809, and in his youth was placed in a solicitor's office. Upon serving out his articles, however, he determined to enter the ministry, and after studying at Edinburgh University, where Dr. Chalmers's lectures produced the undesigned effect of converting him to unitarianism, he became in 1835 pastor of the unitarian congregation at Bridport. While there he published several single sermons, in one of which he attacked the principle of ecclesiastical establishments with great vigour. In 1839 he officiated for a time at St. Mark's Chapel, Edinburgh, where his scepticism as to the miraculous involved him in an acrimonious controversy with the Rev. George Harris of Glasgow, and other members of his denomination. In 1840 he removed from Bridport to London, where he became in 1841 assistant minister to William Johnson Fox [q. v.] at South Place Chapel. After a while he accepted an engagement to lecture on Sundays at the Beaumont Institution, Mile End, which continued until 31 Dec. 1843, when ​it was terminated by the interposition of Mr. J. A. Beaumont, son of the founder, who disliked Harwood's theology. He had already been introduced by Fox to John Forster, and had become sub-editor of the ‘Examiner,’ from which journal he passed to the ‘Spectator,’ and about 1849 he joined John Douglas Cook [q. v.] as sub-editor of the ‘Morning Chronicle,’ the recently acquired organ of the Peelite party. The ‘Chronicle’ proved a great literary, but not a great commercial, success; and upon its relinquishment by the proprietors in 1854, Harwood followed his chief to the ‘Saturday Review,’ which was started in November 1855, and which Harwood sub-edited until 1868, when he succeeded as editor upon the death of Douglas Cook. The discharge of his functions, invariably pursued with the most laborious industry and unintermitting vigilance, was interrupted by severe illness in 1881, and in December 1883 he retired from the editorship and withdrew to Hastings, where he died 10 Dec. 1887. Harwood had the character of being the best sub-editor ever known, and if as editor he did not very powerfully impress his personality upon his journal, he faithfully maintained its traditions, and did all that could be done by the most sedulous application and the fullest employment of his ample stores of political knowledge. He was a keen though a moderate politician, and cherished some warm antipathies to which he gave a freer expression in private than he thought becoming or expedient in his journal. Personally he was a most amiable man, retaining much of the manner of the presbyterian minister of the old school, with few strong visible interests apart from politics, beyond his family affections and his intense enjoyment of music. Notwithstanding his previous distinction as a preacher and lecturer, he seemed to abhor publicity in his later years, and to strive to merge his own personality in his editorship. His daughter, Isabella, is separately noticed. Harwood's principal works, besides occasional sermons, are: 1. ‘Materialism in Religion; or Religious Forms and Theological Formulas,’ 1840. 2. ‘Church Extension and Church Extensionists,’ two lectures, 1840. 3. ‘German Anti-Supernaturalism.’ Six lectures on Strauss's ‘Leben Jesu,’ 1841. 4. Six lectures on the ‘Corn Law Monopoly and Free Trade,’ 1843. 5. ‘A History of the Irish Rebellion of 1798,’ 1844. He is believed to have been the translator of G. L. Bauer's work on the ‘Theology of the Old Testament,’ 1838.
[Saturday Review, 17 Dec. 1887; Inquirer, 24 Dec. 1887; personal knowledge; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
R. G.