Henry Peacham, the Elder
Henry Peacham the Elder was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the sixteenth century, known for his contributions to religious literature and education. Born in Northamptonshire, England, he pursued higher education, earning both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree before being ordained a deacon in 1574. He served as a curate in North Mymms, Hertfordshire, and later became the rector of North Leverton in Lincolnshire after being promoted to priest in 1578. Peacham married Anne Fairclough and fathered five children, one of whom, also named Henry Peacham, gained recognition as a writer.
Throughout his career, Peacham authored a number of sermons and essays aimed at enhancing his religious standing, including the notable 1591 sermon "A Sermon vpon the Three Last Verses of the First Chapter of Job." He also published "The Garden of Eloquence," a comprehensive study of rhetorical figures that became significant during the English Renaissance, highlighting the importance of eloquence in speech. Although his last work was published in 1593, he continued to live until 1634, passing away at the age of eighty-seven. His contributions reflect the intertwining of religious and rhetorical education in Elizabethan England.
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Henry Peacham, the Elder
Writer
- Born: 1546
- Birthplace: Northamptonshire, England
- Died: 1634
Biography
Henry Peacham the Elder was a sixteenth century British curate for the Church of England. He was born in Northamptonshire, England. In 1574, after receiving both his bachelor of arts degree and his master’s degree, Peacham was ordained a deacon in the Church of England. He then became the curate of North Mymms, Hertfordshire.
In 1578, Peacham was promoted within the Church of England to the position of priest and was relocated to Lincolnshire, where he became rector of North Leverton. Henry Peacham married Anne Fairclough. Together they had five children. Their youngest child, Henry Peacham, became a well-known writer famous for his book titled The Compleat Gentleman.
Henry the Elder began writing in order to advance his religious career. He published many sermons, speeches, and essay promoting his religious theories. In 1591, he published his work titled A Sermon vpon the Three Last Verses of the First Chapter of Job. This sermon, preached in front of English nobility, was dedicated to the Countess of Cumberland and the Countess of Warwick. After its publication, Peacham was given the position of rector of South Leverton while still maintaining his responsibilities in North Leverton.
In addition to sermons, Peacham published a study of rhetorical figures titled The Garden of Eloquence. In this work, Peacham addressed the cultural, social, and religious concern with the rhetorical speech of Elizabethan England. Peacham maintained that through proper use of rhetorical speech, one could achieve eloquence and wisdom.
The Garden of Eloquence, first published in 1577, became the most comprehensive collection of rhetorical figures created during the English Renaissance. In 1593, it was revised and republished as a second edition. The 1593 publication of The Garden of Eloquence proved to be Henry Peacham’s last published work. Although he continued to live well into the seventeenth century, he failed to publish any additional writings. In 1634, Henry Peacham the Elder died at the age of eighty-seven.