George, a learned dissenting minister, born at Great Salkeld, in Cumberland, in 1699. His mental capacity was so precocious, that at eleven years of age he was able to read the Greek Testament. He afterwards BENT GRASS studied at Dr Dixon's academy at Whitehaven, from which he removed to the university of Glasgow. In 1721 he was chosen pastor of a congregation of dissenters at Abingdon, in Berkshire; in 1729 he received a call from a society of dissenters in Southwark, with whom he continued eleven years; and in 1740 he was chosen by the congregation of Crutched Friars colleague to the learned Dr Lathimer. In 1731 appeared his "Defence of the reasonableness of Prayer, with a Translation of a Discourse of Maximus Tyrius, containing some popular Objections against Prayer, and an Answer to these." Subsequently to this he published Paraphrases and Notes on the Epistle to Philomena, the two Epistles to the Thessalonians, the first and second to Timothy, and the Epistle to Titus; adding dissertations on several important subjects, particularly on inspiration. In 1735 he published his History of the First Planting of Christianity, in 2 vols. 4to, a work of great learning and ability. He also wrote the "Reasonableness of the Christian Religion," the "History of the Life of Jesus Christ," a Paraphrase and Notes on the seven Catholic Epistles, and several other works, which procured him great reputation. One of the universities in Scotland sent him a doctor's diploma; and several prelates of the Church of England, as Herring, Hoadly, Butler, Benson, and Conybeare, bestowed on him marks of favour and regard. Dr Benson died in 1763.