A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Rationalists/Hawkesworth, John
Hawkesworth, John, LL.D., writer. B. 1715. Having had little education, he served as a clerk until 1744, when he joined the staff of the Gentleman's Magazine. He edited the Adventurer (1752–54) and the works and letters of Swift, and wrote a number of plays and stories. In 1771 he was commissioned by the Government to compile the record of voyages to the South Seas, and he caused great scandal by refusing to admit that narrow escapes were due to Providence. He was clearly very sceptical. In 1773 he became a Director of the East India Company. D. Nov. 16, 1773.