HERRING, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, memorable for his attachment to civil and religious liberty, was the son of a clergyman, and born in the year 1693. He received his grammar-school education at Wilshech.
Wiltsch in the isle of Ely; and at the age of 17 was sent to Jesus college in the university of Cambridge, at which place he was made B. A. in 1714, and the title or degree of A. M. was conferred upon him about three years afterwards. In the year 1722, he was appointed chaplain to Dr Fleetwood, bishop of Ely, who gave him two rectories; and in 1726 he was nominated preacher to the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn. He was chosen chaplain in ordinary to his majesty about the same period, and obtained from Cambridge the degree of D. D. in the year 1728. Bishop Fleetwood, his worthy patron, declared to his friends, that he never heard a sermon from Dr Herring which he would not have been proud to be the author of himself. In 1731, he was chosen rector of Blechingley in Surrey; the same year appointed dean of Rochester, and the king promoted him to the see of Bangor in the year 1737. He was appointed archbishop of York in 1743; and it was peculiarly fortunate for the country at that critical juncture, that a man of his principles and public spirit was raised to such an exalted rank. The rebellion in Scotland was so artfully concealed by its friends in England; that it was scarcely believed the Highlanders were in arms, till the royalists were defeated at the battle of Prestonpans. Amidst the universal consternation which this event occasioned, Archbishop Herring roused the people to a sense of their danger, contributed to remove the panic, and encouraged them to unite with firmness and vigour in the defence of their country.
A meeting of the nobility, gentry, and clergy, was held at York, where the archbishop addressed them in a very able and animated speech, requesting them to unite as one man in averting the present danger, to preserve their happy constitution, and contribute to a subscription for raising troops in defence of the country. The whole assembly entered warmly into his views, and immediately subscribed about 40,000l. for the important purpose recommended by his grace. On the death of Archbishop Potter, which happened in 1747, Dr Herring was translated to the see of Canterbury. In 1753 he was seized with a violent fever, which brought him to the verge of the grave; and although he so far recovered that he languished for a few years, yet his strength and spirits were very much exhausted, and he expired in 1756, in the 63d year of his age. He was buried, according to his own desire, without any pomp or parade, and no monument was erected to his memory.
We are informed by Mr Duncombe, that the archbishop's person was tall and comely; his constitution, from his tenderest youth, weak and delicate; his address easy, engaging, and polite. He was generous without prodigality, magnificent without presumption, and humble without meanness. In his life-time he could never be prevailed upon to publish any of his sermons; but after his death Mr Duncombe published seven sermons on public occasions, in one volume octavo, giving in the preface some account of the author's life. In the Monthly Review he was termed "a prelate of uncommon virtues, a man of extraordinary accomplishments, a candid divine, a polite scholar, a warm lover of his country, a true friend to liberty, religious as well as civil, and of course, a most sincere hater of persecution."