English scholar
Thomas Smith
(3 Jun 1638 ? 11 May 1710) was an English scholar, expelled Fellow of
Magdalen College, Oxford
, and
non-juring divine
.
Early life and academic career
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He was the son of John Smith, a London merchant, and was born in the parish of
Allhallows, Barking
, on 3 June 1638. He was admitted batler (poor scholar) of
The Queen's College, Oxford
, on 7 August 1657, and matriculated as servitor on 29 October following, graduating B.A. on 15 March 1651, and M.A. on 13 October 1653. In that year he was appointed master of
Magdalen school
, in succession to Timothy Parker. He was elected probationer-fellow of Magdalen College in 1666 (when he resigned the schoolmastership), actual fellow in 1667, and dean in 1674, the year in which he graduated B.D. Elected vice-president of Magdalen in 1682, he proceeded D.D. in 1683, and became
bursar
of the college in 1686. he was elected a
fellow of the Royal Society
in December 1677.
[1]
Voyage to the Levant
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In 1668, Smith served as chaplain to
Sir Daniel Harvey
, ambassador at
Constantinople
. He returned to Oxford after three years, bringing with him a number of Greek manuscripts. He then devoted several years to the expression of his opinions and observations on the affairs of the
Levant
, and especially on the state of the
Greek Orthodox Church
; he gained the name at Oxford of 'Rabbi' Smith or 'Tograi' Smith. In common with
Sir Paul Rycaut
, he projected a rapprochement with the eastern church.
1680s
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He held for about two years (1678?1679) the post of chaplain to
Sir Joseph Williamson
. He returned to Magdalen on his election as vice-president in 1683. He was in 1684, presented to the rectory of
Standlake
, but soon resigned. When
Henry Clerke
died on 24 March 1687, Smith tried through Bishop
Samuel Parker
to become his successor as Magdalen's President.
James II
, however, had other intentions. In August 1688 Smith was deprived of his fellowship by
Bonaventure Giffard
, President after Parker had died in the office. He was restored in October 1688, but he detested the revolution that ensued bringing
William III
and
Mary II
to the throne, and, losing touch with the other Fellows, he left Oxford finally for London on 1 August 1689. His fellowship was declared void on 26 July 1692, after he had repeatedly refused to subscribe the oaths to William and Mary.
Later life
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He settled in the household of Sir John Cotton, the grandson of
Sir Robert Cotton
, founder of the
Cotton library
. For twelve years at least, he seems to have had the principal charge of the Cottonian manuscripts. He was consulted on the formation of libraries, in particular by
Narcissus Marsh
. At this period he knew
Samuel Pepys
, and corresponded with
Humphrey Wanley
in Oxford.
Death and legacy
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Smith appears to have moved from the Cottons' at
Westminster
before his death, which took place on 11 May 1710 in
Dean Street, Soho
, in the house of his friend
Hilkiah Bedford
. He was buried on the night of Saturday, 13 May, in
St. Anne's Church, Soho
. He left
Thomas Hearne
a large collection of books and papers. On Hearne's death, in 1735, manuscripts, book, notes and papers came to the
Bodleian Library
; with the rest following in 1755.
Works
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Notes
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References
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