(John), dean of St Paul's, the son of Henry Colet knight, was born in London in the year 1466. His education began in St Anthony's school in that city, from whence, in 1483, he was sent to Oxford, and probably to Magdalene college. After seven years study of logic and philosophy, he took his degrees in arts. About the year 1493, Mr Colet went to Paris, and thence to Italy, probably with a design to improve himself in the Greek and Latin languages, which at this time were imperfectly taught in our universities. On his return to England in 1497, he took orders; and returned to Oxford, where he read lectures gratis, on the epistles of St Paul. At this time he possessed the rectory of Dennington in Suffolk, to which he had been instituted at the age of 19. He was also prebendary of York, and canon of St Martin's le Grand in London. In 1502 he became prebendary of Sarum; prebendary of St Paul's in 1505; and immediately after dean of that cathedral, having previously taken the degree of doctor of divinity. He was no sooner raised to this dignity, than he introduced the practice of preaching and expounding the scriptures; and soon after established a perpetual divinity lecture in St Paul's church, three days in every week; an institution which gradually made way for the reformation. About the year 1508, dean Colet formed his plan for the foundation of St Paul's school, which he completed in 1512, and endowed with estates to the amount of £122 and upwards. The celebrated grammarian, William Lilye, was his first master, and the company of mercers were appointed trustees. The dean's notions of religion were so much more rational than those of his contemporary priests, that they deemed him little better than a heretic; and on that account he was so frequently molested, that he at last determined to spend the rest of his days in peaceful retirement. With this intention he built a house near the palace at Richmond; but, being seized with the sweating sickness, he died in 1519, in the 53rd year of his age. He was buried on the fourth side of the choir of St Paul's; and a stone was laid over his grave, with no other inscription than his name. Besides the preferments above mentioned, he was rector of the guild of Jesus at St Paul's, and chaplain to king Henry VIII. Dean Colet, though a papist, was an enemy to the grossest superstitions of the church of Rome. He disapproved auricular confession, the celibacy of the priests, and such other ridiculous tenets and ceremonies as have ever been condemned by men of sound understanding in every age and country. He wrote, 1. Rudimenta grammatices. 2. The construction of the eight parts of speech. 3. Daily devotions. 4. Epistle ad Erasmus. 5. Several sermons; and other works which still remain in manuscript.