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284
Hereditary Genius
Clarke, Matthew (1664—1726, aet. 62), an eminent minister among the Dissenters.
An exceedingly laborious man, who quite overtasked his powers.
F. Also Matthew Clarke, a man of learning. He spoke Italian and French with
uncommon perfection. Was ejected from the ministry by the Uniformity Act.
Dr. Watts wrote the epitaph of Matthew Clarke, junior, which begins with “a
son bearing the name of his venerable father, nor less venerable himself.”
Dieu, Lewis de (1590—?). “In practical godliness and the knowledge of divinity,
science of all kinds, and the languages, he was truly a star of the first
magnitude.” Married, and had eleven children.
F. Daniel de Dieu, minister of Flushing, a man of great merit He was uncommonly
versed in the Oriental languages, “and could preach with applause in German,
Italian, French, and English.”
u. David Colonius, professor at Leyden.
Dod, John (1547—1645, aet. 98). This justly famous and reverend man was the
youngest of seventeen children. Educated at Cambridge. He was a great and
continual preacher, eminent for the frequency, aptness, freeness, and largeness
of his godly discourse; very unworldly; given to hospitality. He married twice,
each time to a pious woman.
p. John Wilkins,* D.D., Bishop of Chester (1614—1672, aet. 58), a learned and
ingenious prelate. Educated at Oxford, where he was very successful, and
where, aet. 34, he was made Warden of Wadham College by the Committee of
Parliament appointed for reforming the University. Married Robina, widow of
P. French and sister of Oliver Cromwell, who made him Master of Trinity
College, Cambridge, whence he was ejected by Charles II. Aet. 54 he was made
Bishop of Chester. He was indefatigable in study, and tolerant of the opinions
of others. He was an astronomer and experimentalist of considerable merit, and
took an active part in the foundation of the Royal Society. I know nothing of
his descendants, nor even if he had any. The Cromwell blood had less influence
than might have
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