Hurdis, James

Hurdis, James an English divine, was born at Bishopstone, Sussex, in 1763, and was educated first at Chichester School and next at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford. In 1782 he was chosen demy of St. Mary Magdalene College, and some time after was made a fellow. In 1785 he became curate of Burwash, in Sussex, and in 1791 was presented to the living of his native place. In 1793 he was elected to the professorship of poetry, having previously published some poems of great excellence. He took the degree of B.D. in 1794, and that of D.D. in 1797. He died Dec. 23, 1801. Besides poetical works, Hurdis published several works of interest to the Biblical student. They are: Select Critical Remarks upon the English Version of the first ten Chapters of Genesis (Lond. 1793, 8vo): — A short critical Disquisition upon the true Meaning of the Word תִּנַּינַים (Ge 1:21) (ibid. 1790, 8vo), in which he contends that this word, wherever it occurs, signifies crocodile. "His remarks on the various passages in which it is found are, to say the least, very ingenious." He also wrote Twelve Dissertations on the Nature and Occasion of Psalm and Prophecy (ibid. 1800). — Kitto, Bib. Cycl. 2, 343; Hook, Eccl. Biogr. 6, 227 sq.; Allibone, Dict. of Authors, 1, 925.