Peter Needham

Peter Needham (1680–1731) was an English classical scholar and cleric. Life Born at Stockport, he was son of the Rev. Samuel Needham, who kept a private school at Bradenham, Norfolk, and then was appointed master of Stockport grammar school. He attended his father's school at Bradenham. Needham matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge, on 18 April 1693. He was elected Billingsley scholar in 1693 on the same day as Ambrose Philips became a foundation scholar, and he was a Fellow of his college from 12 April 1698 until March 1716. He graduated B.A. in 1696, M.A. in 1700, B.D. in 1707, and D.D. in 1717. In 1706 Needham left Cambridge to become rector of Ovington, Norfolk. He was appointed vicar of Madingley in 1711, and rector both of Whitton, Suffolk cum Thurleston and Conington, Cambridgeshire, in 1713. In the following year a prebend in the church of St. Florence, Pembrokeshire, was conferred on him, and in 1717 the rectory of Stanwick, Northamptonshire. He rebuilt The Old Rectory, Stanwick, and died there on 6 December 1731.