Squire, Samuel

Squire, Samuel an English divine, was born at Warminster, Wiltshire, in 1714, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, of which he became a fellow, and took his degree of A.B. in 1733 and. A.M. in 1737. Soon after, Dr. Wynn, bishop of Bath and Wells, appointed him his chaplain, and in 1739 gave, him the chancellorship and a canonry of Wells, and afterwards collated him to the archdeaconry of Bath. In 1748 he was presented to the rectory of Topsfield, Essex, and in 1749 took the degree of D.D. He was presented in 1750 by archbishop Herring to the rectory of St. Anne, Westminster, and soon, by the king, to the vicarage of Greenwich, Kent. On the establishment of the household of the prince of Wales (afterwards George III) he was appointed his clerk of the closet. In 1760 he was presented to the deanery of Bristol, and in 1761 he was advanced to the bishopric of St. David's. He died May 6, 1766. He was a fellow of the Royal and Antiquary societies. Among his theological works are the following: The Ancient History of the Hebrews Vindicated (Camb. 1741, 8vo): — Indifference to Religion Inexcusable (1758, 8vo; new ed. 12mo and 8vo): — Principles of Religion, in a catechism (1763, 8vo): — Sermons (1745-65, all 4to). See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Hook, Eccles. Biog. s.v.