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Was descended from a good family, who resided at
Great Salkeld, in the county of
Cumberland, where he was born September 1, 1699.
His parents were pious, worthy persons, and zealous Nonconformists, having suffered considerably in this cause in the troubled times of the preceding generation; and they had the satisfaction to see several of a numerous family grow up and distinguish themselves not only in support of the same principles, but in the graces of a Christian life.
George Benson was soon remarked for a seriousness of temper, and a disposition to study, which induced his parents to devote him to the
Christian ministry; and for this purpose, after having passed through the usual course of grammar learning, he was sent to the academy kept by
Dr. Dixon, of
Whitehaven, already mentioned as having had the honour to number
Taylor of
Norwich, among its
alumni. Here, however, he continued only about a year, after which he removed to the
University of Glasgow.
His family appear to have been orthodox, and he himself was brought up in Calvinistic principles, which, however, he abandoned at an early period in the course of his preparatory studies.
Indeed, he does not appear at any time to have considered himself as bound down to the profession of a system of human formation, but to have endeavoured, from the first, to derive his religious principles from the scripture,
