Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison [1]
a learned English prelate, was born at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, Sept. 29, 1636; and receiving his primary education at the free school at Norwich, entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he graduated in Lent term, 1656-7. He began to study medicine, but on the eve of the Restoration decided upon the theological profession, and was ordained privately at Richmond in Surrey by the bishop of Salisbury. Being admitted fellow of his college March 24, 1662, he became tutor, and in 1665 was chosen one of the university preachers, and about the same time was presented to the cure of St. Andrew the Great in Cambridge. In 1667 he received the rectory of Holywell and Nedingworth, Huntingdonshire, from the earl of Manchester, and in 1674 was chosen principal minister to the Church of St. Pete's Mancroft, Norwich. In 1680 he took the degree of D.D., and in October of the same year was presented by Charles II, being then a royal chaplain, to the vicarage of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London. Immediately after the Revolution he was promoted to be archdeacon of London; was consecrated bishop of Lincoln, Jan. 10, 1692; and was raised to the archbishopric of Canterbury in 1694. In 1700 he was appointed one of a committee to recommend to the king proper persons for all ecclesiastical preferments in his gift above the value of £ 20 per annum. He attended his majesty during his last illness, and crowned queen Anne. He was, in April, 1706, made first commissioner in the treaty of union between England and Scotland; and afterwards crowned George I. His death occurred at Lambeth Palace Dec. 14, 1715. By his will he bequeathed large sums to charitable purposes, and proved a liberal benefactor to Benedict College, Cambridge, the library of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Society for the Promotion of the Gospel, Bromley College, etc. He published, The Creed of Mr. (Thomas) Hobbes Examined (Lond. 1670,18mo): — Idolatry: a Discourse (1678, 4to): — Baconiana; or Certain Genuine Remains of Lord Bacon (1679, 8vo; 1674, 4to). See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.
