Thomas Herring
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| Thomas Herring | |
| Archbishop of Canterbury | |
 |
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| Enthroned | 1747 |
|---|---|
| Ended | 1757 |
| Predecessor | John Potter |
| Successor | Matthew Hutton |
| Born | 1693 |
| Died | 23 March 1757 |
Thomas Herring (1693-23 March 1757) 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. He received his MA in 1717 and was a fellow at Corpus Christi College from 1716 to 1723.[1]
Herring became a close friend of Philip Yorke, the Solicitor General, who would later, as Lord Hardwicke, serve for many years as Lord Chancellor, and as such, was able to advance quickly. In 1728 he became Doctor of Divinity and a chaplain to George II, and in 1737 he was appointed Bishop of Bangor. Six years later he became Archbishop of York, and in 1747 Archbishop of Canterbury. There he generally followed the lead of his friend the Lord Chancellor, and frequently came into disputes with the Duke of Newcastle, the Secretary of State. Herring, like his immediate predecessor, had taken a generally Hanoverian side through the Bangorian controversy and stood against the convocation.
Herring is generally credited as being the author of "A New Form of Common Prayer", published anonymously in 1753 in response to John Jones' "Candid Disquisitions" (1749). However, as a conciliator he eschewed controversy and rejoiced that he was "called up to this high station, at a time, when spite, and rancour, and bitterness of spirit are out of countenance; when we breathe the benign and comfortable air of liberty and toleration."[2]
On the whole, Herring has been considered by historians to be a good man but a weak leader.
[edit] References
- ^ A biographical dictionary of America by the Rev. John L. Blake, 1788-1857]
- ^ Letter to William Duncombe, quoted by E. Carpenter in "Cantuar" p243 -Mowbray, Oxford, 1988.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Cecil |
Bishop of Bangor 1737 – 1743 |
Succeeded by Matthew Hutton |
| Preceded by Lancelot Blackburne |
Archbishop of York 1743 – 1747 |
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| Preceded by John Potter |
Archbishop of Canterbury 1747 – 1757 |
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