MOSS (Dr Robert), dean of Ely, was eldest son of Mr Robert Moss, a gentleman in good circumstances; and was born at Gillingham in Norfolk in 1666. He was bred at Benet-college, Cambridge; and acquired great reputation both as a disputant and a preacher. He became preacher to the society of Gray's-inn, London, in 1698; and assistant preacher to Dr Wake at St James's, Westminster, 1699. He was sworn chaplain in three succeeding reigns, to King William, Queen Anne, and George I. and being one of the chaplains in waiting when Queen Anne visited the university of Cambridge, April 5. 1705, he was then created D. D. In 1708 he was invited by the parishioners of St Lawrence Jewry, on the resignation of dean Stanhope, to accept of their Tuesday lecture, which he held till 1727, and then resigned it on account
Moss. count of his growing infirmities. In 1712, on the death of Dr Roderick, he was nominated by the queen to the deanery of Ely, which was the highest, but not the last, promotion he obtained in the church; for in 1714 he was collated, by Robinson bishop of London, to Glaston, a small rectory on the eastern side of Hertfordshire. The gout deprived him of the use of his limbs for some of the last years of his life; and he died March 26. 1729, in his 63d year; and was buried in the presbytery of his own cathedral, under a plain stone with a simple inscription. His character may be seen in the preface to the eight volumes of his Sermons, which has usually been attributed to Dr Snape, the editor of the sermons; but the credit of it has lately been transferred to Dr Zachary Grey. Dean Moss is also supposed to have been the author of a pamphlet printed in 1717, intitled, "The report vindicated from misreports: being a defence of my lords the bishops, as well as the clergy of the lower house of convocation; in a letter from a member of that house to the prolocutor concerning their late consultations about the bishop of Bangor's writings." He wrote also some poems, both Latin and English.