AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE TOPLADY BIOGRAPHY

AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE TOPLADY BIOGRAPHY from the Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John Cousin.

TOPLADY, AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE (1740-1778). —Hymn-writer, s. of an officer in the army, was born at Farnham, ed. at Westminster and Trinity Coll., Dublin, after which he took orders and became incumbent of Broad Hembury. He was a strong Calvinist and entered into a bitter controversy with Wesley. His controversial works are forgotten; but he will always be remembered as the author of "Rock of Ages," perhaps the most widely known of English hymns.