Alexander McCaul | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 May 1799 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 13 November 1863 London, England |
| Burial place | City of London Cemetery |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Trinity College Dublin |
| Occupation(s) | Hebraist, missionary |
| Known for | Missionary work among Jews, Hebrew scholarship |
| Notable work | Old Paths |
Reverend Alexander McCaul (16 May 1799 – 13 November 1863) was an Irish Hebraist and missionary to the Jews.
McCaul studied Hebrew and German in Warsaw and later moved to St. Petersburg, where he was received by Alexander I of Russia. After returning to England and being ordained, he served as curate of Huntley, near Gloucester. He then returned to Poland in 1823 to lead the mission to the Jews in Warsaw and served as the English chaplain until 1830, despite conflicts with Lutheran congregations. In Berlin, he gained the support of the English ambassador George Henry Rose and the Crown Prince of Prussia.
In 1832, McCaul settled in London, supporting the London Society and founding the Jews' Operatives Converts Institution. He began publishing Old Paths, a weekly pamphlet on Jewish ritual. In 1840, he was appointed principal of the Hebrew college by the London Society and later became a professor at King's College London.
McCaul was also rector of St James Duke's Place and St Magnus-the-Martyr, as well as a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral. He played a significant role in the Convocation of the English clergy, where he initially opposed, but later collaborated with, the High Church party. McCaul died on 13 November 1863 and is buried in the City of London Cemetery.