William Steel Dickson
| William Steel Dickson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 December 1744 County Antrim, Kingdom of Ireland |
| Died | 27 December 1824 Belfast, County Antrim, United Kingdom |
| Resting place | Clifton Street Cemetery, Belfast |
| Occupation | Reverend |
| Known for | Irish Revolutionary |
| Political party |
United Irishmen 
|
| Spouse(s) | Isabella Gamble |
William Steel Dickson (1744–1824) was an Irish Presbyterian minister and member of the Society of the United Irishmen, a revolutionary republican organisation in late 18th century Ireland.
Dickson was born on December 25, 1744, the eldest son of John Dickson, a tenant farmer of Ballycraigy, in the parish of Carnmoney, co. Antrim. His mother was Jane Steel and on the death (May 13, 1747) of his uncle, William Steel, the family added his Mother's maiden name to their own.
In his boyhood Dickson was educated by Robert White, a Presbyterian minister from Templepatrick and entered Glasgow College in November 1761. On leaving college he seems to have been employed for a time in teaching; and in 1771 he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Till the outbreak of the American war of independence he occupied himself mainly in parochial and domestic duties. His political career began in 1776, when he spoke and preached against the ‘unnatural, impolitic and unprincipled’ war with the American colonies, denouncing it as a ‘mad crusade.’ On two government fast-days his sermons—on ‘the advantages of national repentance’ (December 13, 1776), and on ‘the ruinous effects of civil war’ (February 27, 1778) created considerable excitement when published, and Dickson was reproached as a traitor. Political differences were probably at the root of a secession from his congregation in 1777. The seceders formed a new congregation at Kirkcubbin, in defiance of the authority of the general synod.
In 1771 he married Isabella Gamble, a woman of some means, who died on July 15, 1819. Dickson had least 8 children, but outlived them all. One of his sons was in the Royal Navy and died in 1798.
Dickson entered with zest into the volunteer movement of 1778, being warmly in favour of the admission of Roman Catholics to the ranks. This was resisted ‘through the greater part of Ulster, if not the whole.’ In a sermon to the Echlinville volunteers (March 28, 1779) Dickson advocated the enrollment of Catholics, and though induced to modify his language in printing the discourse, he offended ‘all the Protestant and Presbyterian bigots in the country.’ He was accused of being a papist at heart, ‘for the very substantial reason, among others, that the maiden name of the parish priest's mother was Dickson.’
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