SHARP (Dr John), archbishop of York, was descended from the Sharps of Little Norton, a family of Bradford Dale in Yorkshire; and was son of an eminent tradesman of Bradford, where he was born in 1644. He was educated at Cambridge, and in 1667 entered into orders. That same year he became domestic chaplain to Sir Heneage Finch, then attorney-general. In 1672, he was collated to the archdeaconry of Berkshire. In 1675, he was installed a prebendary in the cathedral church of Norwich; and the year following, was instituted into the rectory of St Bartholomew near the Royal Exchange, London. In 1681, he was, by the interest of his patron Sir Heneage Finch, then lord high chancellor of England, made dean of Norwich; but in 1686 was suspended, for taking occasion, in some of his sermons, to vindicate the doctrine of the church of England in opposition to Popery. In 1688, he was sworn chaplain to king James II. being then probably restored after his suspension; for it is certain that he was chaplain to king Charles II. and attended as a court-chaplain at the coronation of king James II. In 1689, he was declared dean of Canterbury; but never could be persuaded to fill up any of the vacancies made by the deprived bishops. Upon the death of Dr Lamplugh, he was promoted to the see of York. In 1702 he preached the sermon at the coronation of queen Anne; and the same year was sworn of the privy-council, and made lord almoner to her majesty. He died at Bath in 1713; and was interred in the cathedral of York, where a monument is erected to his memory.—His sermons, which were collected after his death and published in 7 vols 8vo, are justly admired.