Sharp, Thomas

Epithet: antiquary of Coventry

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Epithet: Reverend; of Leeds

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Epithet: of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce

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Epithet: Rector of Adel 1660

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Thomas Sharp was born on December 12th 1763, the second son of John Sharp, Archbishop of York. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating with a BA in 1712, and receiving his masters in 1716. He was later made a fellow of the college.

On leaving university, Sharp was made a chaplain to Archbishop Dawes, and prebendary of Southwell. In 1719 he became prebendary of Wistow, York, and in 1722 was made rector of Rothbury and Archdeacon of Northumberland. That same year he married, and together he and his wife would have fourteen children, his ninth son being the MP and philanthropist Granville Sharp. In 1732, Sharp became the tenth prebnend of Durham Cathedral, and in 1755 was made Official to the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral. He died at Durham on March 16th 1758, and is buried in the cathedral.

Sharp published variously during his lifetime. He wrote a biography of his father, which was edited by Thomas Newcombe and published post-humously in 1825. An edition of his correspondence with Catherine Cockburn on virtue and moral obligation appeared in 1743, and his collected works were published in 1763.

From the guide to the Thomas Sharp Manuscripts, [18th century?], (University of Wales, Trinity St David)