Person Sprat; Thomas (1635 - 1713); author and bishop of Rochester Sprat Thomas author and bishop of Rochester Spratt 'Thomas Rochester ' 1635 - 1713 British Male Beaminster, Dorset, England, Europe 1635 1635 Bishop's Palace, Bromley, Kent, England, Europe 20 May 1713 17130520 Baptism: Beaminster, Dorset, England, Europe (20 September 1635) Burial: South side, St Nicholas' Chapel, Westminster Abbey, London, England, Europe (25 May 1713)

Tallaton, Devon

Clergyman, Church of England Education: Wadham College, Oxford (BA 1655; MA 1657; DD 1669); Incorporated at Cambridge (1671) Career: Fellow of Wadham (1657-1670); Canon of Lincoln (1660-1669); Canon of Westminster (1669-1683); Rector of Uffington, Lincolnshire (1670); Chaplain to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (FRS 1661); Chaplain to the King (1676-1688); Rector of St Margaret's, Westminster (1679-1683); Canon of Windsor (1681-1684); Dean of Westminster (1683-1713); began the repairs to Westminster Abbey, carried out by Sir Christopher Wren (FRS 1663); Bishop of Rochester (1684-1713); Dean of the Chapel Royal (1685); Clerk of the Closet (1685); published 'A True Account and Declaration of the Horrid Conspiracy' (1685) regarding the Rye House Plot Parents: Thomas Sprat Married: Helen Wolseley Children: Thomas Sprat (FRS 1712) and George Sprat Sprat's main work on the history of the Royal Society was finally published 1667, although it was not printed by the Society itself and was subject to various reviews from other Fellows. Sprat's career was influenced through his strongly Royalist stance, although it is also visible that he publicly refashioned himself on occasion, in particular after the end of James II's reign. In 1692, he was even arrested on suspicion of plotting to restore James II. Sprat was patronised by Charles Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (FRS 1663), who derived much wealth and influence through his occupation as a statesman and slave trader. In 1701, he became commissioner of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in America [now: New England Company]. The Society was formed by ordinance on 27 July 1649 and soon after functioned as a self-perpetuating corporation with the rights to purchase lands or tenements not exceeding £2,000 per year. They also undertook general collections across England, which were used to send funds to North American colonised regions. The main aim of the company was to 're-educate' Native American children. This later involved placing them within English families and sending them to residential schools. It is still a functioning organisation, classified as a grant-giving charity. Committees and panels: Committee for Collecting all the Phenomena of Nature hitherto observed (1664) Original Fellow 20/05/1663 John Wilkins Proposed on 1 April 1663; Commissioned to write a history of the Society (1663) Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Venn; Foster; ODNB References: Robinson, H W. 1938. 'Gleanings from the Library - I. A Note on the Early Minutes', in Notes and Records, vol. 1, pp. 92-95 Notes: The election date is Sprat's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously elected on 15 April 1663 and admitted into the Society on 29 April 1663. Sprat T, IM006478.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 RCN: 7769 RCN: R64347 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH7991 1635 - 20 May 1713 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 04/02/2022 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7008 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/14887139 f24a7e56-249f-4943-a215-910549e3f8ea