Bradford, Samuel (1652-12-20 - 1731-05-17)

Born 20 December 1652 in the parish of St. Ann Blackfriars, London. Son of William Bradford. Educated at St. Paul's School and then Charterhouse, London. Admitted to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1669; matriculated in 1672; never received a BA because of initial scruples about taking holy orders. Received MA by royal mandate in 1680. Worked as a private tutor for a number of families. Moved to London in 1689; ordained a deacon there in June 1690, and then priest in October. Minister of St. Thomas's, Southwark, 1691-93. Lecturer of St Mary-le-Bow, London, 1691-93. Tutor for Archbishop Tillotson’s grandsons, 1691-. Rector of St. Mary-le-Bow, 1693-1720. Lecturer at All Hallows, Breadstreet, London, ca. 1694-. Married Jane Ellis of Medbourne, Leicestershire, and had three surviving children, William (ca.1696–1728), Jane and Susanna. Chaplain-in-ordinary to William III, Queen Anne and George I, 1698-1718. Boyle lecturer in 1699. Created DD by Queen Anne in 1705. Prebendary of Westminster Abbey, 1707-23. Offered the bishopric of St. David's in 1710, but declined it. Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1716-24. Bishop of Carlisle, 1718-23. Bishop of Rochester, 1723-1731. Dean of Westminster, 1723-1731. Dean of the honourable Order of the Bath; member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Bradford was a committed Whig and low churchman throughout his career. Died on 17 May, 1731.