Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cary, Robert

472647Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 09 — Cary, Robert1887no contributor recorded

CARY, ROBERT (1615?–1688), chronologer, born at Cockington or Berry-Pomeroy, Devonshire, was the second son of George Cary of Cockington by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour. He was admitted a commoner of Exeter College 4 Oct. 1631; became scholar of Corpus Christi College in October 1634, and graduated B.A. 1635, M.A. 1638-9. He was probably fellow of his college. His kinsman, William Seymour, marquis of Hertford, chancellor of the university, procured for him the degree of D.C.L. in November 1644, and afterwards promoted him to the rectory of Portsmouth, near Kingsbridge. He became intimate with the presbyterians and was made moderator of his division of the county. On the restoration, however, he was one of the first to congratulate the king, and was installed archdeacon of Exeter 18 Aug. 1662. He was 'frightened' out of his preferment by 'some great men then in power' in 1664, and retired to his rectory, where he lived quietly till his death, 19 Sept. 1688. His chief work was 'Palaeologia Chronica; a chronological account of ancient time, in three parts, (1) Didactical; (2) Apodeictical; (3) Canonical,' 1677—an attempt to settle ancient chronology. John Milner, B.D., of Cambridge, published, in 1694, a 'Defence of Archbishop Ussher against Dr. Robert Cary and M. Is. Vossius.' Cary also translated some of the hymns from the church services into Latin verse, and printed them on folio sheets.

[Wood's Athenae Oxon. (Bliss), iv. 243; Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 198; Kennet's Register, (1728), p. 744; Le Neve's Fasti (Hardy), i. 396.]