Sharp, John, Dd

Sharp, John, D.D., an English prelate, was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, 1644. He was admitted to Christ College, Cambridge, from which he graduated in December, 1863. In 1667 he took the degree of M.A., was ordained both deacon and priest, and became domestic chaplain to Sir Heneage Finch, through whose influence he was appointed, in 1672, archdeacon of Berkshire. Three years later he was preferred to a prebend of Norwich. to the rectory of St. Bartholomew's, Royal Exchange, London, and to the rectory of St. Giles's in the Fields. In 1679 he took the degree of D.D. and accepted the lectureship at St. Lawrence Jury, which he resigned in 1683. He was promoted by Sir H. Finch to the deanery of Norwich in 1681. Because of the firm position he took, May 2, 1686, against popery, he was suspended, but was reinstated in January, 1687. He was installed dean of Canterbury, Nov. 25, 1689, and was consecrated archbishop of York, July 5, 1691. On the accession of queen Anne, Mr. Sharp became a member of her privy council and her lord almoner. He died at Bath, Feb. 2, 1714. Bishop Sharp was a man of amiable disposition and unshaken integrity, a faithful and vigilant governor. He published a number of separate sermons which were collected into 7 vols. 8vo, 1709; also 1715, 1728, 1729, 1735, 1749; and in 7 vols. 12mo in 1754 and 1756. They were republished under title of Works (Oxford, 1829, 5 vols. 8vo). See his Life, by Thomas Sharp, D.D. (Lond. 1825. 2 vols. 8vo).