William Dakins
Encyclopedia
William Dakins was an English academic and clergyman, Gresham Professor of Divinity
and one of the translators of the King James Bible.
in the Dictionary of National Biography
) to have been the son of William Dakins, M.A., vicar of Ashwell, Hertfordshire
. He was educated at Westminster School
, whence he was elected in 1586 to a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he proceeded B.A. in 1591. He became a minor fellow of Trinity on 3 October 1593, and a major fellow on 16 March 1594. In 1594 he commenced M.A., and in 1601 proceeded B.D.
He became Greek lecturer of his college (an annual office) on 2 October 1602, and vicar of Trumpington, Cambridgeshire
, in 1603. On the resignation of Hugo Gray he was chosen to succeed him as professor of divinity in Gresham College
, London, on 14 July 1604. He was recommended by the vice-chancellor and several heads of colleges in Cambridge, but also by some of the nobility and even by King James I himself; Christopher Hill
comments that James was probably glad to have a "harmless academic" appointed, after the evangelical Anthony Wotton
and Gray.
He was one of the learned men employed in the authorised translation of the Bible, a member of the Second Westminster Company, to which the epistles of St. Paul and the canonical epistles were assigned In 1605 he resigned the vicarage of Trumpington, and on 2 October 1606 became junior dean of Trinity College. He died in February 1607.
Gresham Professor of Divinity
The Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596/7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
and one of the translators of the King James Bible.
Life
He is conjectured (Thompson CooperThompson Cooper
Thompson Cooper was an English journalist, man of letters, and compiler of reference works. He became a specialist in biographical information, and is noted as the most prolific contributor to the Victorian era Dictionary of National Biography, for which he wrote 1423 entries.-Life:Thompson Cooper...
in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
) to have been the son of William Dakins, M.A., vicar of Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell is a village and civil parish situated about four miles north of Baldock in Hertfordshire.It has a wealth of architecture spanning several centuries. The dates almost entirely from the 14th century and is renowned for its ornate church tower which stands at , and is crowned by an...
. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, whence he was elected in 1586 to a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he proceeded B.A. in 1591. He became a minor fellow of Trinity on 3 October 1593, and a major fellow on 16 March 1594. In 1594 he commenced M.A., and in 1601 proceeded B.D.
He became Greek lecturer of his college (an annual office) on 2 October 1602, and vicar of Trumpington, Cambridgeshire
Trumpington, Cambridgeshire
Trumpington is a village within the city of Cambridge, UK, of which it is a suburb. It is located on the south-west side of the city and borders Cherry Hinton to the east, Grantchester to the west and Great Shelford and Little Shelford to the south-east....
, in 1603. On the resignation of Hugo Gray he was chosen to succeed him as professor of divinity in Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, London, on 14 July 1604. He was recommended by the vice-chancellor and several heads of colleges in Cambridge, but also by some of the nobility and even by King James I himself; Christopher Hill
Christopher Hill (historian)
John Edward Christopher Hill , usually known simply as Christopher Hill, was an English Marxist historian and author of textbooks....
comments that James was probably glad to have a "harmless academic" appointed, after the evangelical Anthony Wotton
Anthony Wotton
Anthony Wotton was an English clergyman and controversialist, of Puritan views. He was the first Gresham Professor of Divinity. Christopher Hill describes him as a Modernist and Ramist.-Life:...
and Gray.
He was one of the learned men employed in the authorised translation of the Bible, a member of the Second Westminster Company, to which the epistles of St. Paul and the canonical epistles were assigned In 1605 he resigned the vicarage of Trumpington, and on 2 October 1606 became junior dean of Trinity College. He died in February 1607.