Sampson, Thomas (?)

Biography

Puritan divine. Church of England clergyman and reformer. Born at Playford, Suffolk or Binfield, Berkshire. Studied at Cambridge, graduated B.A. 1542, fellow of Pembroke College 1548, M.A. 1549. Admitted to the Inner Temple 1547. Royal licence to preach 1547-8. Ordained deacon 1550. Rector of All Hallows, London 1551, considered for the prebend in St Paul's. Preferred to the deanery of Chichester but never installed due to the accession of Mary Tudor. Arrest ordered 1553, fled the country 1554. Travelled on the continent during his exile. Lived at Geneva 1556-58. Possibly a translator of the Geneva Bible. Returned to England after the death of Mary Tudor 1558. Considered for bishoprics 1559. Accepted a prebend at Durham 1560, but refused episcopal office. Dean of Christ Church, Oxford 1561-5. At forefront of protests against ceremonial in 1563, refused to conform with vestments. Deprived of his deaneries 1565 for nonconformity. Master of Wigston's Hospital, Leicester 1568. Prebend of Pancratius, St Paul's, 1570. Master and lecturer in theology at Whittington College, London 1573. Suffered a series of strokes in late 1573, leaving him paralysed at one side and with a serious speech impediment. Made a partial recovery and spent the remainder of his life concentrating on Wigston's Hospital. Translated Hebrew and Ancient Greek into English. Died Leicester, 1589.

Biography Date

c.1517-1589

Biography References

Prov. Reg. Notes (See DNB); LOC; CERL; DNB;

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