KENNETT

kennett, white (1660-1728), english bishop and antiquary, was born at dover in august 1660. he was educated at westminster school and at st edmund's hall, oxford, where, while an undergraduate, he published several translations of latin works, including erasmus _in praise of folly_. in 1685 he became vicar of ambrosden, oxfordshire. a few years afterwards he returned to oxford as tutor and vice-principal of st edmund's hall, where he gave considerable impetus to the study of antiquities. george hickes gave him lessons in old english. in 1695 he published _parochial antiquities_. in 1700 he became rector of st botolph's, aldgate, london, and in 1701 archdeacon of huntingdon. for a eulogistic sermon on the first duke of devonshire he was in 1707 recommended to the deanery of peterborough. he afterwards joined the low church party, strenuously opposed the sacheverel movement, and in the bangorian controversy supported with great zeal and considerable bitterness the side of bishop hoadly. his intimacy with charles trimnell, bishop of norwich, who was high in favour with the king, secured for him in 1718 the bishopric of peterborough. he died at westminster in december 1728. kennett published in 1698 an edition of sir henry spelman's _history of sacrilege_, and he was the author of fifty-seven printed works, chiefly tracts and sermons. he wrote the third volume (charles i.-anne) of the composite _compleat history of england_ (1706), and a more detailed and valuable _register and chronicle_ of the restoration. he was much interested in the society for the propagation of the gospel. the _life of bishop white kennett_, by the rev. william newton (anonymous), appeared in 1730. see also nichols's _literary anecdotes_, and i. disraeli's _calamities of authors_.