a Church of England clergyman and an author of a pamphlet on poor law reform which foresaw a system of national insurance. In 1786 Acland published "A Plan for rendering the Poor independent on Public Contributions". From allusions in this pamphlet it seems that Acland's ‘plan’ was suggested to him by the failure of previous legislation for the encouragement of friendly societies in Devonshire. Of a second pamphlet by Acland, in refutation of Edward King's attempt to prove the public utility of the national debt, the "Gentleman's Magazine" for November 1796 contains a brief and approving notice.
