John Duncombe (writer)
John Duncombe (29 September 1729 – 19 January 1786) was an English clergyman and writer. He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow. He contributed to the "Gentleman's Magazine" under the pseudonym Crito, was a well-known poet, and wrote in 1754 a celebration of British women poets, the "Feminead". He was married to the poet Susanna Duncombe. Life. Duncombe was born in London on 29 September 1729, the only child of the author and playwright William Duncombe and his wife Elizabeth Hughes. He was educated at two schools in Essex, before entering , on 1 July 1745, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. in 1748 and M.A. in 1752. He was later elected a fellow of his college, and in 1753 was ordained at Kew Chapel by John Thomas, the bishop of Peterborough. On the recommendation of Archbishop Thomas Herring, he was appointed to the curacy of Sundridge in Kent. Duncombe subsequently became assistant-preacher at St Anne's Church, Soho. He was in succession chaplain to Samuel Squire, bishop of St David's, and to John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork. In 1757 Archbishop Herring, a friend, presented him to  the united livings of St Andrew and St Mary Bredan, in Canterbury. He was later made one of the Six Preachers in the cathedral; and in 1773 obtained from Archbishop Frederick Cornwallis the living of Herne, near Canterbury. The archbishop also appointed him master of St John's Hospital, Canterbury, and gave him a chaplaincy, which enabled him to hold his two livings. Duncombe died at Canterbury on 19 January 1786 and was buried there. Personal life. In 1761 Duncombe married Susanna Highmore, a childhood friend, and a poet and artist in her own right. She and an only daughter  survived him. Works. Among Duncombe's many poems, the best known were: He wrote numerous occasional pieces, such as "On a Lady sending the Author a Ribbon for his Watch". As an antiquarian, he wrote: He edited: He also published several sermons.