John Sargent

John Sargent (8 October 1780 – 3 May 1833) was an English clergyman, academic and biographer. Wealthy by background but a country pastor, he was a prominent Evangelical who came to be regarded by others on his wing of the Church of England as an exemplary cleric. He was also centrally connected, by ties to other major Evangelicals of the time.

Life He was the eldest son of John Sargent, M.P. for Seaford in 1790, and Charlotte (d. 1841), only daughter and heiress of Richard Bettesworth of Petworth, Sussex, born on 8 October 1780. He was educated at Eton College, where he was a king's scholar, and in 1799 in the sixth form. In 1799 he went to King's College, Cambridge, where he was a Fellow from 1802 to 1804, and graduated B.A. 1804, M.A. 1807.

At Cambridge Sargent fell under the influence of Charles Simeon, who shaped his career.

Intended for the law, Sargent was instead ordained deacon in 1805, and priest in 1806. On the presentation of his father he was instituted on 11 September 1805 to the family living of Graffham, Sussex, and from 5 June 1813 he held with it a second family rectory, that of nearby Woolavington.

At Graffham Sargent rebuilt the rectory-house, and on these benefices he lived for the rest of his days, becoming on his father's death the squire of the district. He died at Woolavington on 3 May 1833, and was buried there. Mary Sargent (died 1878), married, on 24 July 1834, Henry William Wilberforce, brother of Samuel Caroline Sargent (1812–1837), married, on 7 November 1833, Henry Edward Manning Sophia Lucy Sargent (1814–1850), married, on 5 June 1834, George Dudley Ryder, second son of Henry Ryder Henry Martyn Sargent (1816–1836)