Thomas Atkinson (divine)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Atkinson was an English divine and dramatist.
Atkinson entered Merchant Taylors' School
in August 1608. Seven years later he was elected scholar of St. John's College, Oxford, during the presidency of Laud, and, graduating in 1619, proceeded to the degree of B.D. in 1630. After filling the office of senior proctor of the university, Atkinson accepted the living of South Warnborough
in Hampshire
, to which he was inducted 20 Jan. 1637–8. Towards the end of the same year, by virtue of an exchange with Dr. Peter Heylin, he became rector of Islip
, near Oxford
, and, dying a few weeks later, was buried in St. John's College chapel 6 Feb. 1638–9.
Atkinson is not known to have published anything; but he wrote two Latin poems, directed against Andrew Melvin, and styled ‘Andrei Melvini Anti-Tami-Cunicategoria’ and ‘Melvinus delirans’ respectively. A Latin tragedy
entitled ‘Homo,’ bearing the signature Thomas Atkinson, may (almost certainly) be ascribed to the same author on these grounds: (1) It was dedicated to Laud in his capacity of president (Præses colendissime), which implies that a member of St. John's College wrote it; (2) There was at St. John's, during Laud's time, only one Thomas Atkinson of any note as a scholar. The MS. of ‘Homo’ is preserved in the Harleian library of the British Museum
, No. 6925.
Atkinson entered Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
in August 1608. Seven years later he was elected scholar of St. John's College, Oxford, during the presidency of Laud, and, graduating in 1619, proceeded to the degree of B.D. in 1630. After filling the office of senior proctor of the university, Atkinson accepted the living of South Warnborough
South Warnborough
South Warnborough is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. In the 2001 census, the population was 542.South Warnborough is approximately south of the village of Odiham and north of the town of Alton...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, to which he was inducted 20 Jan. 1637–8. Towards the end of the same year, by virtue of an exchange with Dr. Peter Heylin, he became rector of Islip
Islip
-Places:In England*Islip, Northamptonshire*Islip, OxfordshireIn the United States*Islip , New York, a town in Suffolk County, New York**Islip , New York, a hamlet and census-designated place located in the above town...
, near Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and, dying a few weeks later, was buried in St. John's College chapel 6 Feb. 1638–9.
Atkinson is not known to have published anything; but he wrote two Latin poems, directed against Andrew Melvin, and styled ‘Andrei Melvini Anti-Tami-Cunicategoria’ and ‘Melvinus delirans’ respectively. A Latin tragedy
Tragedy
Tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
entitled ‘Homo,’ bearing the signature Thomas Atkinson, may (almost certainly) be ascribed to the same author on these grounds: (1) It was dedicated to Laud in his capacity of president (Præses colendissime), which implies that a member of St. John's College wrote it; (2) There was at St. John's, during Laud's time, only one Thomas Atkinson of any note as a scholar. The MS. of ‘Homo’ is preserved in the Harleian library of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, No. 6925.