Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gurdon, Brampton

by Gordon Goodwin

GURDON, BRAMPTON (d. 1741), Boyle lecturer, younger son of Brampton Gurdon, of Letton, Norfolk (who was nephew of John Gurdon [q. v.]), by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Thornhagh, of Fenton, Nottinghamshire (Chester, London Marriage Licenses, ed. Foster, col. 598; Burke, Landed Gentry, 7th edit., i. 799), was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, where he took the two degrees in arts, B.A. 1691, M.A. 1695 (Cantabr. Graduati, edit. 1787, p. 171). By 1696 he had been elected fellow of his college. His Boyle lectures were published as 'The Pretended Difficulties in Natural or Reveal'd Religion no Excuse for Infidelity. Sixteen Sermons preach'd in the Church of St. Mary le Bow, London, in … 1721 and 1722,' 8vo, London, 1723 (reprinted in the third volume of S. Letsome and I. Nicholl's 'Religion,' fol. 1739). An abridgment by G. Burnet, vicar of Coggeshall, Essex, was issued in 1737, 8vo. Gurdon was a favourite of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield, who made him his chaplain and gave him the rectory of Stapleford Abbots, Essex, 17 March 1719-1720, a living he resigned 3 Nov. 1724 (Morant, Essex, i. 178). On 16 March 1726-7 he was collated to the archdeaconry of Sudbury (Le Neve, Fasti, ed. Hardy, ii. 493); became rector of Denham, Buckinghamshire, 17 Oct. 1730 (Lipscomb, Buckinghamshire. iv. 448); and rector of St. Edmund the King, Lombard Street, about 1732 (Malcolm, Londinium Redivivum, iii. *468), preferments which he held until his death. He died unmarried in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, 20 Nov. 1741 (Gent. Mag. 1741. p. 609; Administration Act Book,P.C.C.,Dec. 1741). His other writings are:

1. 'Probabile est animam non semper cogitare. Idea Dei non est innata' [in verse.], s. sh. fol. [Cambridge], 1696.
2. 'The Distinction of Christians into Clergy and Laity justified: in a sermon [on Ephes. iv. 11, 12] preached … at the consecration of … John [Leng] … bishop of Norwich,' 4to, London, 1723.
3. 'Christian Religion supported by the Prophecies of the Old Testament: or, a Defence of the Argument drawn from Prophecy,' 8vo, London, 1728.
4. 'A Letter to a Lady: where-in the canonical authority of St. Matthew's Gospel is defended' [anon.], 8vo, London, 1732.
5. 'An Answer to the Defence of the Dissertation or Enquiry concerning the Gospel according to St. Matthew … By the Author of the Letter to a Lady,' 8vo, London, 1733.

[Authorities cited in the text.]

G. G.