The eldest child of
Robert Vaughan, he was born at
Worcester on 18 March 1823, a seven-months child who was frail. His father began his education, and he entered
University College school, London, in 1836 at age 13. Passing on to
University College, he graduated B.A. at the age of 19 (1842) with classical honours, in London University. In 1843 he became a student at the
Lancashire Independent College, under his father's presidency. Having finished his course in Manchester, and become engaged to be married, Vaughan spent a session (1846–7) at the
University of Halle, coming under the influence of
Julius Müller and
August Tholuck. At this time he thought his main object should be a series of ecclesiastical dramas to illustrate church history: Tholuck suggested the study of philosophy. Between June and October 1847 he travelled in Italy with his father. Early in 1848 he became assistant to
William Jay at Argyle Chapel,
Bath. He expected to be ordained as colleague and successor to Jay, and resigned when difficulties were made about this; his engagement ended on 24 March 1850. Accepting a call from Ebenezer Chapel, Steelhouse Lane,
Birmingham, Vaughan was ordained there on 8 September 1850. He was learning Spanish and Dutch (to add to French, German, and Italian) to gain access to writings of
mystics, and was contributing constantly to the
British Quarterly. In the autumn of 1854 he visited Glasgow but declined a call to succeed
Ralph Wardlaw, returned home ill, and was laid up for two months with
pleurisy. In the spring of 1855 symptoms of pulmonary disease were apparent; he resigned his charge, preaching his last sermon on 24 June. Vaughan was an invalid at
Bournemouth,
St. John's Wood, and
Westbourne Park, London. He died at 19 Alexander Street, Westbourne Park, on 26 October 1857. ==Works==