John Ryland, an English clergyman, born in Northampton, Jan. 29, 1753, died in Bristol, May 25, 1825. He was the son of the Rev. John Collett Ryland, Baptist pastor at Northampton and afterward principal of a seminary at Enfield, author of "Contemplations on the Beauties of Creation," etc. (3 vols.), and other works. The son could read the Psalms in Hebrew at five years of age, and had read through the Greek Testament before he was nine. In 1770 he preached before the Baptist congregation of Northampton, and for the next five years assisted his father in his school, and preached occasionally. In 1776 he became pastor of the Northampton congregation. In 1791 he wrote the circular letter which led to the formation of the English Baptist missionary society, in the organization of which he took part at Kittering in 1792. In 1793 he was called to Bristol as pastor of the Baptists in that city and president of the Baptist college, continuing in both offices for nearly 33 years. In 1815 he was chosen secretary of the Baptist missionary society.

He published many sermons and several volumes on theological topics.