MILNER, JOSEPH, a divine and historian, was born in 1744, near Leeds in Yorkshire. He received his elementary education at the Leeds grammar school; but having the misfortune early to lose his father, he was deprived of the means of prosecuting his studies at a university. Milner, however, from his diligence and talent, obtained the employment of chapel-clerk of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, which enabled him to study at that university. After graduating in 1766, he entered the church, and divided his time between teaching and lecturing in Hull. He was made vicar of North Ferriby; and although he met with much neglect and opposition on account of his evangelical views, which subjected him to the charge of Methodism, yet his preaching was exceedingly popular. He was appointed vicar of Hull in 1797, but only enjoyed the preferment a few weeks, when he was removed by death. His principal works are the History of the Church of Christ, which was completed by his brother, and two volumes of posthumous Sermons.