Charles Simeon (1759 - November 13, 1836), was an English evangelical clergyman.

He was born at Reading and educated at Eton College and Cambridge. In 1782 he became fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and took orders, receiving the living of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, in the following year. He was at first so unpopular that services were frequently interrupted, and he was often insulted in the streets. Having overcome public prejudice, he subsequently gained a remarkable and lasting influence among the undergraduates of the university.

He became a leader among evangelical churchmen, was one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society, and acted as adviser to the British East India Company in the choice of chaplains for India. His chief work is a commentary upon the whole Bible, entitled Horae homileticae (London, 1819-1820). The "Simeon Trustees" were instituted by him for the purpose of acquiring church patronage in the interests of his evangelical views.

Reference

See Memoirs of Charles Simeon, with a selection from his writings and correspondence, edited by the Rev. W Carus (3rd ed., 1848).

• This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.