Benjamin Heath Malkin ((1769-03-23)23 March 1769 – 26 May 1842(1842-05-26) (aged 73)[1]) was a British scholar and writer notable for his connection to the artist and poet William Blake.

From 1809 to 1828 he was headmaster of Bury St Edmunds Free School, where he taught a number of pupils who would later go on to become Cambridge Apostles.

[1] During his scholarly career he published both historical and creative works on many subjects, including a history of South Wales,[5] a translation of Gil Blas, and the play Almahide and Hamet.

Today he is remembered for his 1806 book A Father's Memoirs of his Child, which leads off with a 48-page introduction consisting of a dedication to his friend Thomas Johnes and the earliest biographical account of Blake.

Blake had designed (though it was engraved by Robert Cromek) the frontispiece depicting Malkin's deceased son.

William Godwin reports meeting Malkin at dinner at Horne Tooke's in 1796 and 1797 and at Fuseli's Milton Gallery in 1800.

Malkin also lived close to Blake's patron Thomas Butts in Hackney, London and knew George Cumberland, another friend.

Thomas also invented an imaginary country called Allestone, including details of its history, geography and monetary system, and an elaborate (for a five-year-old) map.

In effect, he accused Malkin of causing his son's death through having allowed him to overindulge in mental activity.

He also ordered an autopsy, which he says proved conclusively that Thomas died of inflammatory bowel disease and peritonitis, and that his brain was perfectly normal.