John Poynder

John Poynder (1779-1849) was a successful London lawyer. Raised an evangelical Anglican, he served as a solicitor for Bridewell Prison and Bethlehem Hospital for almost forty years. During that time he also published Literary Extracts (1844), displaying his interest in English literature. Poynder, like his friend William Alers Hankey (see above), served on numerous committees for evangelical organizations, including the Church Missionary Society, the Reformation Society, and the Protestant Association. He took an active interest in Indian affairs, especially the efforts to abolish the practice of sati [suttee], which finally occurred in 1829, as well as the practice of the British government in allowing portions of tax revenues to support the Juggernaut.