Martin Madan (1726 – 2 May 1790) was an English barrister, clergyman and writer, known for his contribution to Methodist music, 'The Lock Hospital Collection,' and later controversial views on marriage expressed in his book Thelyphthora.
He took holy orders, and was appointed chaplain to the London Lock Hospital.
In 1767, much adverse comment was aroused by his support of his friend Thomas Haweis in a controversy arising out of the latter's possession of the living of All Saints Church, Aldwincle, Northamptonshire.
In 1760 Martin Madan published for the Lock Hospital the first edition of the collection of Psalms and Hymns Extracted from various Authors.
[2] In 1780, Madan raised a storm of opposition by the publication of his Thelyphthora, or A Treatise on Female Ruin, in which he advocated polygamy as the remedy for evils he deplored.
His arguments were based mainly on scriptural authority; but his book caused many angry replies.
A fictional account of this event can be read in The Winner of Sorrow, a 2005 novel about the poet by Brian Lynch.