CRU'DEN, ALEXANDER, was b. at Aberdeen, 31st May, 1700, and educated at Maris chal college, with a view to the church, but having exhibited decided symptoms of insanity, he was for some (line placed in confinement. On his release, he left Aberdeen, and after spending several years as a tutor, settled in London in 1732, first as a corrector of the press, and afterwards as a book-seller. In 1737, appeared his Complete nee of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, a really great work, which has laid divines especially under deep obligations to the laborious nuttier. The book was dedi cated to queen Caroline, who graciously promised to " remember him," but unfortu nately died a few days after. C. now relapsed into insanity, and his friends were obliged to remove him to a private asylum, where he appears to have been harshly treated. On his recovery, he published an account of his sufferings. For the next fifteen years he acted as a corrector of the press, but, in 1753, he had again to be put under restraint, but only for a few days. C. now believed himself divinely commissioned to reform the
manners of the world, and styled himself Alexander, the corrector. lie went about the country exhorting the people to keep holy the Sabbath day, etc. He also petitioned the king for the honor of knighthood, and the parliament to constitute him by act, "the corrector of the people," hoping by such honors to influence the people more effectually. Several other foolish thins were done by C. in the course of his life, but he also per formed many virtuous and benevolent actions, which shed a pleasing light over his melancholy career. 0. died at Islington, Nov. 1, 1770. There have been many editions and abridgments of C.'s concordance published both in Britain and America. One of the best known is that of Chalmers (London, 1812; 10th ed., 1824).