John Parkhurst (1728–1797) was an English academic, clergyman and biblical lexicographer.

Life

The second son of John Parkhurst (1701–65) of Catesby House,

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...

, he was born in June 1728. His mother was Ricarda, second daughter of Sir Robert Dormer. He was educated at

Rugby School Rugby School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. Up ...

and

Clare Hall, Cambridge Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. Founded in 1966 by Clare College, Clare Hall is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students alongside postdoctoral researchers and fellows. It ...

, where he proceeded BA 1748, MA 1752, and was elected

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

. Soon after he was ordained the death of his elder brother made him heir to considerable estates at Catesby and

Epsom Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. For some time he acted as

curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy w ...

for a friend, but received no preferment. In 1785 he gave the family living of Epsom to

Jonathan Boucher Rev. Jonathan Boucher (pronounced Boo-Shay), FRSE, FSA (12 March 1738 – 27 April 1804) was an English clergyman, teacher, preacher and philologist. Early career Jonathan Boucher was born in Blencogo, near Wigton, Cumberland, and educated at ...

, though he knew him only by reputation. Parkhurst led a life of literary retirement and study. In early life he became a follower of John Hutchinson and was influenced by his principles of

biblical exegesis Biblical criticism is the use of critical analysis to understand and explain the Bible. During the eighteenth century, when it began as ''historical-biblical criticism,'' it was based on two distinguishing characteristics: (1) the concern to ...

. He spent the latter part of his life at Epsom, where he died on 21 February 1797. His monument by

John Flaxman John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several yea ...

in St Martin's parish church, Epsom carried an inscription by his friend

William Jones of Nayland William Jones (30 July 17266 January 1800), known as William Jones of Nayland, was a British clergyman and author. Life He was born at Lowick, Northamptonshire, but was descended from an old Welsh family. One of his ancestors was Colonel John ...

Works

Parkhurst's

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

grammar and lexicon contributed to the tradition of study of unpointed Hebrew through to

Samuel Sharpe Samuel Sharpe, or Sharp (1801 – 23 May 1832), also known as Sam Sharpe, was an enslaved Jamaican who was the leader of the widespread 1831–32 Baptist War slave rebellion (also known as the Christmas Rebellion) in Jamaica. He was proclaim ...

. From his

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

lexicon he discarded accents and smooth breathings. Both his lexicons contain theology alongside general information. Published works by John Parkhurst: * ''A Serious and Friendly Address to the Rev.

John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English people, English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The soci ...

'' &c. 1753, (on the witness of the Spirit). * ''An Hebrew and English Lexicon, … to which is added a Methodical Hebrew Grammar'' &c., 1762; last edition 1830. In the later editions a Chaldee grammar was added; the ''Hebrew and Chaldee Grammar'' was published separately, 1840, edited by James Prosser. * ''A Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament … prefixed a … Greek Grammar'' &c., 1769; the edition of 1798 was edited by his daughter, Mrs. Thomas; last edition 1851, edited by

Henry John Rose Henry John Rose (3 January 1800 – 31 January 1873) was an English churchman, theologian of High Church views, and scholar who became archdeacon of Bedford. Life Born at Uckfield, Sussex, he was a younger son of William Rose (1763–1844), then ...

and

John Richardson Major John Richardson Major (1797 – 29 February 1876) was a Church of England clergyman who spent most of his life as a schoolmaster. He served as Master of Wisbech Grammar School and later as the first head master of King's College School, London. E ...

. * ''The Divinity … of … Jesus Christ … in Answer to … Priestley'' &c., 1787. In August 1797 ''

The Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term ''magazine'' (from the French ''magazine'' ...

'' posthumously published a letter by Parkhurst on the

confusion of tongues The Tower of Babel ( he, , ''Mīgdal Bāḇel'') narrative in Genesis 11:1–9 is an origin myth meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages. According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language and mi ...

at Babel.

Family

Parkhurst was married twice. His first marriage was in 1754, to Susanna, daughter of John Myster of Epsom. By her he had two sons who died before him, and a daughter who was married to the Revd. James Altham and died 25 April 1813. Susanna died in 1759. Parkhurst's second marriage was in 1761, to Millicent, daughter of James Northey of London. By her he had one daughter, who was married to the Rev. Joseph Thomas in 1791. Millicent died 27 April 1800, aged 79.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Parkhurst, John 1728 births 1797 deaths 18th-century English Anglican priests English lexicographers Fellows of Clare College, Cambridge English male non-fiction writers 18th-century lexicographers