Kidder, Richard, Dd

Kidder, Richard, D.D., an eminent English prelate and learned Orientalist, was born at Brighthelmstone, in Sussex. He studied at Emanuel College, Cambridge, of which he was elected fellow in 1655. He afterwards became vicar of Stanground, Huntingdonshire, but was ejected in 1662 for nonconformity. He, however, conformed some time after, and became rector of Raine, Essex, in 1664, and successively rector of St. Martin's Outwick, London, in 1674; prebendary of Norwich in 1681; dean of Peterborough in 1689; and finally bishop of Bath and Wells in 1691. He died in 1703. He was considered one of the best divines of his time, and a clear and elegant writer. His principal works are Demonstration of the Messias, etc. (London, 1684,1699,1700, 3 vols.; another edit. 1726, fol., and often since): — The Judgment of private Discretion in Matters of Religion defended-a sermon on 1Th 5:21 (Lond. 1687, 4to) :A Sermon preached before the King and Queen at Whitekall, Nov. 5,1692 [on 2Sa 24:14] (Lond. 1693, 4to): -Sermon, Zechariah 7:5, of Fasting (Lond. 1694, 4to): — A Commentary on the Five Books of loses, etc. (London, 1694, 2 vols. 8vo): — Bellarmine examined (Gibson's Preservative, 4:55): — On Repentance (Tracts of Angl. Fathers, ii, 300).- Darling, Encyclop. Bibliograph. vol. ii, s.v.; Birch, Life of Tillotson; Hook, Eccles. Biog. s.v.