Horton, Thomas ( - 1673-03-24)

Thomas Horton, son of Laurence Horton, merchant, was admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1623; he graduated B.A. in 1626, M.A. in 1630, and B.D. in 1637, also serving as a college fellow in 1631. He became a university preacher in 1638 and the same year was appointed perpetual curate of St Mary Colechurch, London, a position he held until 1640. He became professor of divinity at Gresham College, London in 1641. He was appointed to ordain ministers in and around London in 1644; in 1647 he was appointed preacher of Gray’s Inn (a position from which he resigned in 1651) and elected president of Queens’ College, Cambridge. He received his D.D. in 1649 and became vice-chancellor the following year. Horton enjoyed a good reputation with the protectorate, which brought him various preaching and career opportunities, including being named commissioner for the approbation of ministers in 1660. After the Restoration, however, he was removed from his presidency of Queens’ and his professorship at Gresham. He was ejected under the Act of Uniformity in 1662, but soon conformed and was made vicar of St Helen, Bishopsgate, London in 1666. He was survived by his wife Dorothy (m. 1651) and their daughter Judith. Horton was buried under the chancel of St. Helen’s on 29 March 1673.