among the Romans, was an appellation given to a master who had freed his slave. As soon as the relation of master expired, that of patron began: for the Romans in giving their slaves their freedom, did not despoil themselves of all rights and privileges in them; the law still subjected them to considerable services and duties towards their patrons, the neglect of which was very severely punished.

Patron was also a name which the people of Rome gave to some great man, under whose protection they usually put themselves; paying him all kinds of honour and respect, and denominating themselves his clients; while the patron, on his side, granted them his credit and protection.

the church of Rome, a saint, whose name a person bears, or under whose protection he is put, and whom he takes particular care to invoke: or Patronage, a saint, in whose name a church or order is founded.

the canon and common law, is a person, who having the advowson of a parsonage, vicarage, or the like spiritual promotion, belonging to his manor, hath, on that account, the gift and disposition of the benefice, and may present to it whenever it becomes vacant. The patron's right of disposing of a benefice, originally arises either from the patron, or his ancestors, &c., being the founders or builders of the church; from their having given lands for the maintenance thereof; or, from the church's being built on their ground; and frequently from all three together.