DARBY, JOHN NELSON. – One of the principal founders of the sect of the Darbists (v. BARNABITI), or Plymouth Brethren, b. in London on 18 Nov. 1800, d. at Bournemouth on 29 Apr. 1882. He studied law in Dublin, but shortly thereafter devoted himself to pastoral ministry in the Anglican Church. Having begun to doubt the authority of this Church, he abandoned it some years later and joined in Dublin with a group of people who shared his ideas. In 1830 he moved to Plymouth, where another similar group was already flourishing.
To propagate the new sect, he visited Switzerland, where he remained for two years (1838–40), founding there the Plymouthist Congregations of Vaud, Geneva, and Bern. Upon returning to Plymouth, he chose this city as the center of his activity: he visited
Germany and France, and went to the United States six times; in 1871 he was in Italy and in 1875 in New Zealand. He was an indefatigable writer, as demonstrated by the 32 volumes of his works. He wrote not only in defense of his doctrines and on Sacred Scripture, but also against the Wesleyans and the Puseyites, against Newman’s apology, and composed various hymns and religious songs, etc. His principal idea was that his sect, without the hindrances of ecclesiastical organization, with the Bible alone but guided by God, would reunite all the others. His uncompromising character, however, alienated some of his collaborators (G. Müller, S. P. Tregelles, A. N. Groves), and consequently the sect of the Darbists is among those that have experienced the greatest number of schisms.