JOHN, bishop of Rochester, was born at Beverley in Yorkshire, in the year 1459, and educated in the collegiate church of that place. In 1484, he removed to Michael house in Cambridge, of which college he was elected master in the year 1495. Having applied himself to the study of divinity, he took orders; and, becoming eminent as a divine, attracted the notice of Margaret countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII. who made him her chaplain and confessor. In 1501, he took the degree of doctor of divinity, and the same year was elected chancellor of the university. In the year following, he was appointed Lady Margaret's first divinity professor; and in 1504, consecrated bishop of Rochester; which small bishopric he would never resign, though he was offered both Ely and Lincoln. It is generally allowed, that the foundation of the two colleges of Christ church and St John's, in Cambridge, was entirely owing to Bishop Fisher's persuasion and influence with the countess of Richmond: he not only formed the design, but superintended the execution. On the promulgation of Martin Luther's doctrine, our bishop was the first to enter the lists against him. On this occasion he exerted all his influence, and is generally supposed to have written the famous book by which Henry VIII. obtained the title of Defender of the Faith. Hitherto he continued in favour with the king; but in 1527, opposing his divorce, and denying his supremacy, the implacable Harry determined, and finally effected, his destruction. In 1543, the parliament found him guilty of misprision of treason, for concealing certain prophetic speeches of a fanatical impostor, called the Holy Maid of Kent, relative to the king's death; and condemned him, with five others, in lots of goods, and imprisonment during his majesty's pleasure; but he was released on paying 300l. for the king's use.

King Henry being now married to Anne Boleyn, his obsequious parliament took an oath of allegiance proper for the occasion. This oath the bishop of Rochester steadily refused; alleging, that his conscience could not be convinced that the king's first marriage was against the law of God. For refusing this oath of succession, he was attainted by the parliament of 1534; and committed to the Tower, where he was cruelly treated, and where he would probably have died a natural death, had not the pope created him a cardinal. The king, now positively determined on his destruction, sent Rich the solicitor general, under the pretence of consulting the bishop on a case of conscience, but really with a design to draw him into a conversation concerning the supremacy. The honest old bishop spoke his mind without suspicion or reserve, and an indictment and conviction of high treason was the consequence. He was beheaded at Tower Hill on the 22d of June 1535, in the 77th year of his age. Thus died this good old prelate; who, notwithstanding his inflexible enmity to the Reformation, was undoubtedly a learned, pious, and honest man. He wrote several treatises against Luther, and other works, which were printed at Wurtzburg in 1597, in one volume folio.