Benjamin Ibbot (1680-1725). Courtesy Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive.
Rev. Benjamin Ibbot (1680 - 5 April 1725) was an English poet and divine.[1]
Life[]
Youth and education[]
Ibbot was a son of Thomas Ibbot, vicar of Swaffham and rector of Beachamwell, Norfolk. He was born at Beachamwell in 1680.[2]
He was admitted at Clare Hall, Cambridge, 25 July 1695. after earning a B.A. in 1699, he moved to Corpus Christi College in 1700, and became a scholar of that house. He commenced an M.A. in 1703, and was elected to a Norfolk fellowship in 1706, but resigned it the next year on becoming librarian (and afterwards chaplain) to Archbishop Tenison.[2]
Career[]
Ibbot was installed treasurer of the cathedral church of Wells, 13 Nov. 1708, by the option of Archbishop Tenison, who also presented him to the rectory of the united parishes of St. Vedast, alias Foster's, and St. Michael Querne, London. In 1713 and 1714, by appointment of the archbishop, he preached the Boyle lectures, and replied to Anthony Collins's 'Discourse of Free-thinking in matters Religion.'[2]
George I appointed Ibbot a chaplain-in-ordinary in 1716. He was appointed preacher-assistant to Dr. Samuel Clarke at St. James's, Westminster, and rector of St. Paul's, Shadwell; and on 26 November 1724 was installed a prebendary of Westminster.[2]
He died at Camberwell on 5 April 1725.[2]
Writing[]
His chief works are: 1. Six occasional sermons, including 'The Nature and Extent of the Office of the Civil Magistrate, considered in a Sermon [on Acts xviii. 14, 15] preached … Sept. 29 … being … the Election Day of a Lord Mayor for the year ensuing,' London (three editions), 1720, 4to. This gave offence, and was answered by Silas Drayton in a pamphlet entitled 'Gallio reproved,' 1721, by Joseph Slade in 'Gallionism truly stated,' 1721, and by another writer under the pseudonym of 'Philoclesius.' 2. 'Thirty Discourses on Practical Subjects,' 2 vols., London, 1726, 8vo, selected from his manuscripts by his friend Dr. Samuel Clarke, and published for the benefit of his widow; 2nd edit., 2 vols., London, 1776, 8vo, containing some account of the life and writings of the author by Roger Flexman, D.D. 3. 'A Course of Sermons preached for the Lecture founded by the Hon. Robert Boyle … in 1713 and 1714, wherein the true notion of the exercise of Private Judgment, or Free-thinking, in matters of Religion, is stated [against Anthony Collins],' 2 parts, London, 1727, 8vo; reprinted in vol. ii. of 'A Defence of Natural and Revealed Religion,' London, 1739, fol.[2]
Recognition[]
When the king visited Cambridge on 6 October 1717 Ibbot was, by royal mandate, created a Doctor of Divinity.[2]
Ibbot was buried in Westminster Abbey.[2]
His poem "A Fit of the Spleen; In Imitation of Shakesphear" was included in Dodsley's Collection of Poems in Six Volumes; by several hands.[1]
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
External links[]
- Poems
- Benjamin Ibbot at the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive ("A Fit of the Spleen")
- About
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Ibbot, Benjamin