PUSEY, Edward Bouverie, Called. - Anglican theologian, b. at Pusey (Berkshire, southwest of Oxford) on 12 Aug. 1800, d. at Ascot Priory (Oxford) on 16 Sept. 1882. Second son of James Bouverie, a descendant of the old Huguenot family called Bouverie, in 1819 he entered Christ Church College, Oxford; in 1824 he was elected a fellow of Oriel College, where he formed a deep friendship with Newman (v.) and Keble (v.). From 1825 to 1827, at the wish of Bishop Lloyd, he attended the Universities of Göttingen, Berlin and Bonn, where he heard Ewald, Tholuck, Schleiermacher and Eichhorn; having returned to Oxford, he devoted himself to the Oriental languages. In 1828 he married Maria Barber. The work Enquiry into the probable causes of rationalistic character lately predominant in the theology of Germany (2 vols., London 1828) earned him appointment as Regius Professor of Hebrew and canon of Christ Church.
It was toward the end of 1834 that Pusey entered explicitly into relation with the Oxford movement (v.) through his Scriptural views of Holy Baptism (Tracts of the Times, nos. 67-69, published in 1835). These tracts, on account of their erudition, acquired great authority and were, as Church put it, the heavy artillery on the battlefield. From this moment dates the publication, undertaken together with Keble, Newman and Marriott, of A library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, anterior to the division of the East and West, translated by members of the English Church (51 vols., Oxford 1838-85).
From 1840 onward the Oxford movement was called Puseyism, to indicate that Pusey was its soul. In 1843, after a sermon on the Eucharist, Pusey was denounced to the vice-chancellor as a supporter of doctrines that were too Roman and was therefore suspended, for two years, from the right to preach within the University. The measure stirred all Oxford; Pusey's authority increased.
Newman's conversion did not break the friendship and affection that Pusey cherished for him. It does not seem, however, that the great scholar ever thought of entering the Catholic Church as his friend did. It has been said of Pusey that he resembles a bell, which rings to call the faithful to church, but itself never enters. Together with Keble he committed himself to defending the doctrine of the Prayer Book, which he did not consider incompatible with Catholicism.
From 1843 onward Pusey devoted himself to re-establishing the interior life among his coreligionists; he also thought of restoring the religious life in the very heart of Anglicanism, aided by Miss Sellon, giving an example of a spirit of charity, industriousness and penance, which shone through despite his efforts to keep them hidden.
Reunion with the Church of Rome was one of the last great concerns of his life. In 1865 there appeared a writing of his entitled Eirenicon. Newman himself replied to his friend and showed him the illogicality of his position. On the continent, however, interest was taken in Pusey's effort; Dupanloup defended the unionist tendency at the Vatican Council. In 1869, Pusey, his heart full of hope, published a second Eirenicon and a third in 1870. The definitions of the Vatican Council, presented to Anglicans in an exaggerated and inaccurate manner, made Pusey abandon any intention of union. He wrote afterward: "The Vatican Council has been the greatest sorrow of my long life."
The list of Pusey's works was published by Madan (Falconer) in A bibliographical list of the printed works of dr. P. (1897). Besides those already cited, the most important: The doctrine of the Real Presence as contained in the Fathers (Oxford 1855); The Real Presence... the doctrine of the English Church (ibid. 1857); The minor prophets with commentary (ibid. 1860; 2nd ed. London 1906); The councils of the Church (Oxford 1857); Daniel the prophet (ibid. 1864); On the clause "and the Son" (ibid. 1876); Habitual Confession not discouraged (ibid. 1878); What is the Faith as to Everlasting Punishment? (ibid. 1880). He also wrote numerous sermons: Parochial sermons (4 vols., ibid. 1832-50); University sermons (3 vols., ibid. 1864-79); Lenten sermons (ibid. 1858-74).