Nicholas, Bishop of London, and a martyr to the Reformation, was descended of an ancient family, and born in the beginning of the sixteenth century at Wilmotswick in Northumberland. From the grammar-school of Newcastle-upon-Tyne he was sent to Pembroke Hall in Cambridge in the year 1518, and was there supported by his uncle, Dr Robert Ridley, fellow of Queen's College. In 1522 he took his first degree in arts; two years after was elected fellow; and in 1525 he commenced master of arts. In 1527, having taken orders, he was sent by his uncle, for further improvement, to the Sorbonne at Paris; from thence he went to Louvain, and continued abroad till the year 1529. On his return to Cambridge he was chosen under-treasurer of the university; and in 1533 was elected senior proctor. He afterwards proceeded bachelor of divinity, and was chosen orator and a chaplain of the university. At this time he was much admired as a preacher and disputant. He lost his kind uncle in 1536; but was soon after patronized by Dr Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, who made him his domestic chaplain, and presented him to the vicarage of Herne in East Kent, where, we are told, he preached the doctrine of the Reformation. In 1540, having commenced doctor of divinity, he was made king's chaplain; and in the same year was elected master of his college in Cambridge. Soon after, Ridley was collated to a prebend in the church of Canterbury; and it was not long before he was accused in the bishop's court, at the instigation of Bishop Gardiner, of preaching against the doctrine of the Six Articles. The matter being referred to Cranmer, Ridley was acquitted. In 1545 he renounced the doctrine of transubstantiation, and was made a prebendary of Westminster; in 1547 he was presented by the fellows of Pembroke Hall to the living of Soham, in the diocese of Norwich; and the same year was consecrated bishop of Rochester. In 1550 he was translated to the see of London. During the same year he was one of the commissioners for examining Bishop Gardiner, and concurred in his deprivation. In 1552, returning from Cambridge, he, unfortunately for himself, paid a visit to the Princess, afterwards Queen Mary; to whom, prompted by his zeal for reformation, he expressed himself with too much freedom; for she was scarcely seated on the throne when Ridley was doomed a victim to her revenge. With Cranmer and Latimer he was burnt alive at Oxford on the 16th of October 1555. Among other works he wrote A Treatise concerning Images in Churches; A brief Declaration of the Lord's Supper; Certain godly and comfortable Conferences between Bishop Ridley and Mr Hugh Latimer during their imprisonment; A Comparison between the comfortable Doctrine of the Gospel and the Traditions of the Popish Religion. The Life of Bishop Ridley was written by his relation, Dr Gloucester Ridley, in 1763.