In his views on this subject he was equally opposed to the universalists and the annihilationists. He engaged in many religious controversies, and one of these, on the future of the Lost, led to the severance of private friendships and religious connections. Some years before he had been elected a fellow of this college. In 1843-4 Birks won the Seatonian prize for the best English poem at Trinity College. During his stay there he studied the prophetic scriptures, and took the affirmative side in the warm controversy which arose on the subject of the premillennial theory of the Lord's return. Having joined the Church of England on leaving the university, Birks settled at Watton-at-Stone as tutor and then curate to the Reverend Edward Bickersteth. Watton-at-Stone church, where Birks worked with Edward Bickersteth In 1834, like Whewell before him, Birks became second wrangler and second Smith's prizeman. The subject chosen was Mathematical and Moral Certainty and Dr William Whewell spoke very highly of this oration. As the holder of this prize he delivered the customary oration in the college hall. He won a sizarship and a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in his third year gained the chief English declamation prize. The family being nonconformists, Birks was educated at Chesterfield and then at the Dissenting College at Mill Hill. Biography īirks was born on 28 September 1810 in Staveley in Derbyshire, England, where his father was a tenant farmer under the Duke of Devonshire. His discussions led to much controversy: in one book he proposed that stars cannot have planets as this would reduce the importance of Christ's appearance on this planet. He rose to be Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Thomas Rawson Birks (28 September 1810 – 19 July 1883) was an English theologian and controversialist, who figured in the debate to try to resolve theology and science.

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