John Duncombe (writer)
Encyclopedia
John Duncombe was an English
clergyman and writer, son of William Duncombe
.
He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
, where he became a fellow. He married the poet Susanna Highmore
. He contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine under the pseudonym Crito, was a well-known poet, and wrote in 1754 a celebration of British women poets, the Feminead.
, he was born in London. He was first educated at two schools in Essex
; he then entered, on 1 July 1745, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. 1748, M.A. 1752. He was later chosen fellow of his college, and was in 1753 ordained at Kew Chapel by John Thomas
, the bishop of Peterborough
. He was appointed, by the recommendation of Archbishop Thomas Herring
, to the curacy of Sundridge
in Kent
.
Subsequently Duncombe became assistant-preacher at St Anne, Soho. He was in succession chaplain to Samuel Squire
, bishop of St David's
, and to John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork
. In 1757 Archbishop Herring, a friend, presented him to the united livings of St. Andrew and St. Mary Bredman, in Canterbury
. He was later made one of the Six Preachers
in the cathedral; and in 1773 obtained from Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis
the living of Herne
, near Canterbury. The archbishop also appointed him master of St. John's Hospital, Canterbury, and gave him a chaplaincy, which enabled him to hold his two livings.
Duncombe died at Canterbury 19 January 1786 and was buried there. He married in 1761 Susanna, daughter of Joseph Highmore. She and an only daughter survived him.
He wrote numerous occasional pieces, such as On a Lady sending the Author a Ribbon for his Watch.
Duncombe wrote as an antiquarian:
Duncombe edited:
He also published several sermons.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clergyman and writer, son of William Duncombe
William Duncombe
William Duncombe was a British author and playwright. He worked in the Navy Office from 1706 until 1725. That year, he and Elizabeth Hughes won a very large lottery sum on a joint ticket. He married Elizabeth in 1726 and "retired into literary leisure." The nature of their match is unknown,...
.
He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, where he became a fellow. He married the poet Susanna Highmore
Susanna Highmore
Susanna Highmore was a British poet with a relatively small literary output. She was wife to Joseph Highmore, whom she married on 28 May 1716. Joseph Highmore was a portrait painter in high demand, and the couple lived in London and associated with Isaac Watts, William Duncombe, and Samuel...
. He contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine under the pseudonym Crito, was a well-known poet, and wrote in 1754 a celebration of British women poets, the Feminead.
Life
The only child of William DuncombeWilliam Duncombe
William Duncombe was a British author and playwright. He worked in the Navy Office from 1706 until 1725. That year, he and Elizabeth Hughes won a very large lottery sum on a joint ticket. He married Elizabeth in 1726 and "retired into literary leisure." The nature of their match is unknown,...
, he was born in London. He was first educated at two schools in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
; he then entered, on 1 July 1745, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. 1748, M.A. 1752. He was later chosen fellow of his college, and was in 1753 ordained at Kew Chapel by John Thomas
John Thomas (bishop of Winchester)
John Thomas was an English bishop.He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in 1719 and became Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1720....
, the bishop of Peterborough
Bishop of Peterborough
The Bishop of Peterborough is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Peterborough in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the counties of Northamptonshire, Rutland and the Soke of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire...
. He was appointed, by the recommendation of Archbishop Thomas Herring
Thomas Herring
Thomas Herring was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747 to 1757.He was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and later Jesus College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was a contemporary of Matthew Hutton, who succeeded him in turn in each of his dioceses...
, to the curacy of Sundridge
Sundridge
Sundridge may mean:* Sundridge, Ontario, a village in Ontario, Canada* Sundridge, Kent, a village in Kent, England* Sundridge, London, suburb in the London Borough of Bromley southeast London....
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
Subsequently Duncombe became assistant-preacher at St Anne, Soho. He was in succession chaplain to Samuel Squire
Samuel Squire
Samuel Squire was a Bishop of the Church of England and a historian.-Early life:Squire was born the son of a druggist in Warminster, Wiltshire, and was first educated at Lord Weymouth's School. He matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1730 and graduated BA in 1734, winning the Craven...
, bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
, and to John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork
John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork
John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork and 5th Earl of Orrery, FRS was a writer and a friend of Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson....
. In 1757 Archbishop Herring, a friend, presented him to the united livings of St. Andrew and St. Mary Bredman, in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
. He was later made one of the Six Preachers
Six Preachers
The college of Six Preachers of Canterbury Cathedral was created by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer as part of the reorganisation of the monastic Christ Church Priory into the new secular Cathedral....
in the cathedral; and in 1773 obtained from Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis
Frederick Cornwallis
Frederick Cornwallis was Archbishop of Canterbury, and the twin brother of Edward Cornwallis.Cornwallis was born in London, England, the seventh son of Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis. He was educated at Eton College and graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge...
the living of Herne
Herne
Herne may refer to:Places in England* Herne, Kent, near the town of Herne Bay* Herne Bay, Kent, seaside town located in southeastern Kent* Herne Common, Kent* Herne Hill in LondonPlaces in Australia* Herne Hill, Victoria...
, near Canterbury. The archbishop also appointed him master of St. John's Hospital, Canterbury, and gave him a chaplaincy, which enabled him to hold his two livings.
Duncombe died at Canterbury 19 January 1786 and was buried there. He married in 1761 Susanna, daughter of Joseph Highmore. She and an only daughter survived him.
Works
Among his many poems the best known were- ‘An Evening Contemplation in a College, being a Parody on the “Elegy in a Country Churchyard”’ (1753)
- ‘The Feminead’ (1754)
- ‘Translations from Horace’ (1766–7).
He wrote numerous occasional pieces, such as On a Lady sending the Author a Ribbon for his Watch.
Duncombe wrote as an antiquarian:
- ‘Historical Description of Canterbury Cathedral,’ 1772.
- A translation and abridgment of John BattelyJohn BattelyJohn Battely was an English antiquary and clergyman, Archdeacon of Canterbury 1688–1708. He was the author of two antiquarian works published after his death: Antiquitates Rutupinae and Antiquitates S. Edmundi Burgi ad Annum MCCLXXII Perductae...
's ‘Antiquities of Richborough and Reculver’ 1774. - ‘History and Antiquities of Reculver and Herne,’ and of the ‘Three Archiepiscopal Hospitals at and near Canterbury’ (contributed to John NicholsJohn Nichols (printer)John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
's ‘Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica,’ vols. i. and iv. 1780).
Duncombe edited:
- ‘Letters from Italy’ of John Boyle, first earl of Cork and Orrery, 1773.
- ‘Letters by several Eminent Persons deceased, including the Correspondence of J. Hughes, Esq.,’ 1773.
- ‘Letters from the late Archbishop Herring to William Duncombe, Esq., deceased,’ 1777.
- ‘Select Works of the Emperor Julian,’ 1784.
He also published several sermons.