Sherlock, Thomas

Sherlock, Thomas, an English prelate, was the son of Dr. William Sherlock (q.v.) and was born in London in 1678. He early went to Eton, from which (about 1693) he was removed to Cambridge, and was admitted into Catherine Hall. He took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1697, and that of Master of Arts in 1701. Between these dates he entered the ministry, and was appointed to the mastership of the Temple in 1704, which he held until 1753. In 1714 he took his degree of Doctor of Divinity, became master of Catherine Hall. and vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and in 1871 was created dean of Chichester. He was created bishop of Bangor in 1728, of Salisbury in 1734; and in 1747 the see of Canterbury was offered to him but he declined it on account of ill health. The following year he accepted the see of London. He died in 1761. Bishop Sherlock published, in opposition to Dr. Hoadly in the Bangorian Controversy, The Use and Intent of Prophecy: — Trial of the Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus: — and a collection of his Discourses. The first complete edition of his, works was published (Lond. 1830) in 5 vols, 8vo.