James, a learned divine and poet, the son of a doctor of medicine, was born in 1720, and attended the school at Reading. Enrolled in 1736 as a student of Trinity College, Oxford, he became tutor to Francis North, afterwards the celebrated First Lord of the Treasury. Merrick's classical scholarship was shown by his edition of the Greek text of Tryphiodorus in 1741, and led to his election as probationer fellow in 1744. He entered into orders, but was prevented by his delicate health from undertaking the duties of a pastorate. After a life spent in congenial study he died in 1769. Merrick was characterized by Bishop Louth as "one of the best of men, and most eminent of scholars." His most important works are—Prayers for a Time of Earthquakes and Floods, London, 1756; A Dissertation on Proverbs, Chapter ix., 4to, Oxford, 1744; The Psalms Translated or Paraphrased in English Verse, second edition, 12mo, Reading, 1766; and Annotations on the Psalms, 4to, Reading, 1768. Of his small poems inserted in Doddsley's collection, the fable of "The Chameleon" is the best known.