Jonathan Martin (1782 – 1838) was an English arsonist, famous for burning down York Minster in 1829. Martin was born at Highside House, near Hexham, in 1782, one of the twelve children of William Fenwick Martin and Isabella, née Thompson. Among his siblings was the artist John Martin and the philosopher William Martin. After being brought up by his aunt, Ann Thompson, a staunch Protestant with a vivid image of hell, Martin witnessed the murder of his sister by his neighbour, and was sent to his uncle's farm to recover from the shock. Between 1804 and 1810 he served in the Royal Navy, and then became a Wesleyan preacher in 1814, strongly denouncing the Church of England. In 1817, he threatened the assassination of Edward Legge, Bishop of Oxford, for which he was committed to West Auckland lunatic asylum, before being moved to the Gateshead asylum. He escaped in 1820, but was recaptured. His wife died in 1821, and he escaped for a sec

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