CARTWRIGHT, Thomas, a celebrated Puritan divine, was born in Hertfordshire about the year 1535. He studied divinity at St John's College, Cambridge, but during the
reign of Mary was compelled to adopt the legal profession. Cartwright On the accession of Elizabeth, he resumed his theological studies, and was soon afterwards chosen Fellow of Trinity College. In 1570, he was chosen Margaret divinity professor; and it was during his occupation of this chair that his sentiments on ecclesiastical polity provoked the hostility of Sir William Cecil and Dr Whitgift, by the latter of whom he was deprived of his post in 1571. Immediately after this he removed to the continent, and officiated as clergyman to the English residents, first of Antwerp and afterwards of Middleburg. On his return, he became still further embroiled with Dr Whitgift and the government, and was several times thrown into prison, but always released at the intercession of his friends. He was finally liberated in 1592 and allowed to preach, but the hardships which he had previously endured brought on his death in 1603.
He wrote A Confutation of the Rheinish translation, glosses, and annotations on the New Testament; Commentaria practica in totam Historiam Evangelicam; A Directory of Church Government; A Body of Divinity; and also two expository works on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.