Thomas Horton

Thomas Horton D.D. (died 1673) was an English clergyman, Professor of Divinity at Gresham College in London, and President of Queens' College, Cambridge. Life A native of London, he was son of Laurence Horton, merchant, and a member of the Mercers' Company. He was admitted a pensioner of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 8 July 1623, proceeding B.A. in 1626, was elected a Fellow of his college, and commenced M.A. in 1630. From 12 July 1638 until 28 November 1640 he was minister of St. Mary Colechurch, London, a donative of the Mercers' Company. He was elected professor of divinity in Gresham College, London, on 26 October 1641. In 1644, Horton was one of the association of divines appointed by the parliament to ordain ministers in and near the city of London, and in the year following he subscribed the petition of the ministers of the province of London to the parliament, in which they prayed for the speedy establishment of the Presbyterian government in Congregational, classical, and national assemblies. He was a member of Gray's Inn, and from 18 May 1647 until 1657 was preacher there. He was made President of Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1647. In 1649 he was created D.D. at Cambridge. In 1649 he was chosen vice-chancellor, and with the heads of houses carried new regulations for the government of the presses and printers of the university. About 1651 he married, and although he procured from the committee of parliament for reforming the universities an order that his marriage should not disqualify him for his professorship, the Gresham committee, acting in accordance with the founder's will, declared the place vacant. The committee did not proceed to a new election until 19 May 1656, when George Gifford was chosen, but Horton obtained a new dispensation from Cromwell, and remained in possession until the Restoration. Charles II granted him a temporary respite in 1660, but in 1661 Gifford took his place.