Sir John, a celebrated statesman, grammarian, and divine, of an ancient family in the Isle of Wight, was born at Cambridge in the year 1514, and educated at St John's college in that university; where, after taking his degrees in arts, he was first chosen Greek lecturer, and in 1540 professor of that language, with a stipend of 40l. a-year. In this station Cheke was principally instrumental in reforming the pronunciation of the Greek language, which, having been much neglected, was imperfectly understood. About the year 1543 he was incorporated master of arts at Oxford, where, we are told, he had studied for some time. In the following year he was sent to the court of King Henry VIII. and appointed tutor for the Latin language, jointly with Sir Anthony Cooke, to Prince Edward, about which time he was made canon of the college newly founded at Oxford; wherefore he must have now been in orders. On the accession of his royal pupil to the crown, Mr Cheke was first rewarded with a pension of 100 merks, and afterwards obtained several considerable grants from the crown. In 1550 he was made chief gentleman of the privy-chamber, and was knighted the following year; in 1552, chamberlain of the exchequer for life; in 1553, clerk of the council; and soon after secretary of state and privy-counsellor. But these honours were of short duration. Having concurred in the measures of the duke of Northumberland for setting the crown on the unfortunate Jane Grey, and acted as her secretary during the nine days of her reign, on the accession of Queen Mary, Sir John Cheke was sent to the Tower, and stript of the greatest part of his possessions. In September 1554 he obtained his liberty, and a license from her majesty to travel abroad. He went first to Basil, thence to Italy, and afterwards returned to Straßburg, where he was reduced to the necessity of reading Greek lectures for subsistence. In 1556 he fell out in an evil hour to meet his wife at Bruxelles; but, before he reached that city, he was seized by order of King Philip II., hoodwinked, and thrown into a waggon; and thus ignominiously conducted to a ship, which brought him to the Tower of London. He soon found that religion was the cause of his imprisonment; for he was immediately visited by two Roman priests, who piously endeavoured to convert him, but without success. However, he was at last visited by Fleckenham; who told him from the queen, that he must either comply or burn. This powerful argument had the desired effect; and Sir John Cheke accordingly complied in form, and his lands, upon certain conditions, were restored; but his remorse soon put an end to his life. He died in September 1557, at the house of his friend Mr Peter Osborne in Wood-street, London, and was buried in St Alban's church. He left three sons, the eldest of whom, Henry, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He wrote, 1. A Latin translation of two of St Chrysostom's homilies. Lond. 1543, 4to. 2. The Hurt of Sedition. Lond. 1549, 1576, 1641. 3. Latin Translation of the English Communion Service. Printed among Bucer's opuscula. 4. De pronunciatione Graecae. Basil. 1555, 8vo. 5. Several letters published in his life by Strype; and a great number of other books.