Thomas Horton (Gresham College)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Horton D.D. was an English clergyman, Professor of Divinity
at Gresham College
in London
, and President of Queens' College, Cambridge
.
, 8 July 1623, proceeding B.A. in 1626, was elected a Fellow of his college, and commenced M.A. in 1630. From 12 July 1638 till 28 November 1640 he was minister of St. Mary Colechurch, London, a donative of the Mercers' Company. He was elected professor of divinity in Gresham College
, London, on 26 October 1641.
In 1644, Horton was one of the association of divines appointed by the parliament to ordain ministers in and near the city of London
, and in the year following he subscribed the petition of the ministers of the province of London to the parliament, in which they prayed for the speedy establishment of the Presbyterian government in Congregational, classical, and national assemblies. He was a member of Gray's Inn
, and from 18 May 1647 till 1657 was preacher there.
He was made President of Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1647. In 1649 he was created D.D. at Cambridge
. In 1649 he was chosen vice-chancellor, and with the heads of houses carried new regulations for the government of the presses and printers of the university. About 1651 he married, and although he procured from the committee of parliament for reforming the universities an order that his marriage should not disqualify him for his professorship, the Gresham committee, acting in accordance with the founder's will, declared the place vacant. The committee did not proceed to a new election till 19 May 1656, when George Gifford
was chosen, but Horton obtained a new dispensation from Cromwell, and remained in possession till the Restoration. Charles II granted him a temporary respite in 1660, but in 1661 Gifford took his place.
On 9 August 1652 Horton was incorporated D.D. at Oxford, and in 1658 he was nominated one of the triers or commissioners for the approbation of young ministers. In 1654 he was appointed by Oliver Cromwell
one of the visitors of the university of Cambridge. On 5 November in that year he preached at St. Paul's Cathedral before the lord mayor and court of aldermen, and his sermon was printed.
On 2 Augusr 1660 he was removed from the presidency of Queens' College, Cambridge, to make room for Edward Martin
, who had been ejected in 1644. Horton withdrew with good grace. When the Savoy Conference
was appointed, Horton was nominated an assistant on the side of the Presbyterians, though, according to Richard Baxter
, he never joined in the deliberations. He was one of the divines who were silenced by the Bartholomew Act in 1662, but he conformed soon afterwards, On 13 June 1666 he was admitted to the vicarage of Great St. Helen's in Bishopsgate Street, London, and held it till his death. He was buried in the chancel of that church on 29 March 1673), leaving a widow, but no children.
His biographer, John Wallis, who had been under his tuition at Cambridge, says he was "a pious and learned man, an hard student, a sound divine, a good textuary, very well skilled in the oriental languages, very well accomplished for the work of the ministry, and very conscientious in the discharge of it".
3. One Hundred Select Sermons upon Several Texts: Fifty upon the Old Testament, And Fifty on the New, London 1679, fol., with the author's life by John Wallis.
He and Dillingham prepared for press a treatise written by Dr. John Arrowsmith
entitled Armilla Catechetica, Cambridge, 1659, 4to.
Gresham Professor of Divinity
The Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596/7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
at Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and President of Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
.
Life
A native of London, he was son of Laurence Horton, merchant, and a member of the Mercers' Company. He was admitted a pensioner of Emmanuel College, CambridgeEmmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, 8 July 1623, proceeding B.A. in 1626, was elected a Fellow of his college, and commenced M.A. in 1630. From 12 July 1638 till 28 November 1640 he was minister of St. Mary Colechurch, London, a donative of the Mercers' Company. He was elected professor of divinity in Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, London, on 26 October 1641.
In 1644, Horton was one of the association of divines appointed by the parliament to ordain ministers in and near the city of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, and in the year following he subscribed the petition of the ministers of the province of London to the parliament, in which they prayed for the speedy establishment of the Presbyterian government in Congregational, classical, and national assemblies. He was a member of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and from 18 May 1647 till 1657 was preacher there.
He was made President of Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1647. In 1649 he was created D.D. at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. In 1649 he was chosen vice-chancellor, and with the heads of houses carried new regulations for the government of the presses and printers of the university. About 1651 he married, and although he procured from the committee of parliament for reforming the universities an order that his marriage should not disqualify him for his professorship, the Gresham committee, acting in accordance with the founder's will, declared the place vacant. The committee did not proceed to a new election till 19 May 1656, when George Gifford
George Gifford
George Gifford was a Puritan preacher at Maldon, Essex.-Life:Gifford was born in Dry Drayton, near Cambridge and attended Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1570 and MA in 1573. He afterwards lived at Maldon, but was discharged from the priesthood for refusing to subscribe to Archbishop...
was chosen, but Horton obtained a new dispensation from Cromwell, and remained in possession till the Restoration. Charles II granted him a temporary respite in 1660, but in 1661 Gifford took his place.
On 9 August 1652 Horton was incorporated D.D. at Oxford, and in 1658 he was nominated one of the triers or commissioners for the approbation of young ministers. In 1654 he was appointed by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
one of the visitors of the university of Cambridge. On 5 November in that year he preached at St. Paul's Cathedral before the lord mayor and court of aldermen, and his sermon was printed.
On 2 Augusr 1660 he was removed from the presidency of Queens' College, Cambridge, to make room for Edward Martin
Edward Martin (Queens')
Edward Martin, D.D. was an English clergyman, ejected President of Queens' College, Cambridge, and at the end of his life Dean of Ely.-Life:...
, who had been ejected in 1644. Horton withdrew with good grace. When the Savoy Conference
Savoy Conference
The Savoy Conference of 1661 was a significant liturgical discussion that took place, after the Restoration of Charles II, in an attempt to effect a reconciliation within the Church of England.-Proceedings:...
was appointed, Horton was nominated an assistant on the side of the Presbyterians, though, according to Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
, he never joined in the deliberations. He was one of the divines who were silenced by the Bartholomew Act in 1662, but he conformed soon afterwards, On 13 June 1666 he was admitted to the vicarage of Great St. Helen's in Bishopsgate Street, London, and held it till his death. He was buried in the chancel of that church on 29 March 1673), leaving a widow, but no children.
His biographer, John Wallis, who had been under his tuition at Cambridge, says he was "a pious and learned man, an hard student, a sound divine, a good textuary, very well skilled in the oriental languages, very well accomplished for the work of the ministry, and very conscientious in the discharge of it".
Works
He published eight single sermons and left many others prepared for the press. After his death were published: 1. Forty-six Sermons upon the whole Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, London 1674, fol., edited by Dr. William Dillingham. 2. A Choice and Practical Exposition upon the 4, 47, 51, and 63 Psalms, London 1675, fol.3. One Hundred Select Sermons upon Several Texts: Fifty upon the Old Testament, And Fifty on the New, London 1679, fol., with the author's life by John Wallis.
He and Dillingham prepared for press a treatise written by Dr. John Arrowsmith
John Arrowsmith (scholar)
John Arrowsmith was an English theologian and academic.-Life:He was born near Gateshead and entered St John's College, Cambridge in 1616. In 1623 he entered the fellowship of St Catherine Hall, Cambridge....
entitled Armilla Catechetica, Cambridge, 1659, 4to.