Thomas Smith
English translator and controversialist
About Thomas Smith
Lived 1624 – 1661 (aged 36–37). Thomas Smith was a translator, debater, anglican theologian and librarian.
Thomas Smith (c. 1624 - 27 Sept 1661) was an English scholar, translator, and controversialist, fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, and University Librarian from 1659 to his death.
Life
He was the son of Thomas Smith, born in London in 1623 or 1624. He studied at St Paul's school, and was admitted sizar of Christ's College on 26 March 1640, at the age of 1640. He took a BA in 1644, an MA in 1647, and a BD in 1654. He was made vicar of Caldecote, South Cambridgeshire in 1650, and University Librarian in 1659, holding the latter post until his death from an epidemic on 27 September 1661.
He engaged in controversies with the Quaker George Fox, and against John Bunyan. He was a collaborator and corrector in the press of the "London" Polyglot Bible of Bishop Brian Walton.
Works
Life and Death of William More, 1660 (William More was his predecessor as University Librarian). Translated John Daillé's Apology for the Reformed Churches, Cambridge, 1653, with a preface, The judgment of a University-man concerning Mr. Knot's last book against Mr. Chillingworth, responding to Edward Knott's Infidelity Unmasked, part of a long sequence of Anglican—Catholic controversial works, the preceding of which was William Chillingworth's famous Religion of Protestants.
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Important facts
People in Thomas Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Thomas Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Smith?
English translator and controversialist
When was Thomas Smith born?
Thomas Smith was born in 1624.
When did Thomas Smith die?
Thomas Smith died on 27 September 1661.
What was Thomas Smith's occupation?
Thomas Smith was a translator, debater, anglican theologian and librarian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Smith (translator and controversialist)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Smith. https://biography.guide/thomas-smith-translator/
MLA: "Thomas Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-smith-translator/.
Chicago: "Thomas Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-smith-translator/.
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