Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cobbold, John Spencer
COBBOLD, JOHN SPENCER (1768–1837), divine, son of the Rev. Thomas Cobbold, was born at Occold, Suffolk, on 24 July 1768. He was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, of which he was elected a fellow. He graduated B.A. as seventh wrangler in 1790, M.A. in 1793. About 1794 he accepted the mastership of the free school at Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He next became curate to his father at Wilby, Suffolk. In 1805 he removed to Woolpit, in the same county, as his father's curate, and on the decease of his father in 1831 he became the rector of that parish, where he spent the remainder of his life. He also held the vicarage of Shelland, Suffolk, to which he was instituted in 1793. He died at Woolpit on 3 April 1837 (Ipswich Journal, 15 April 1837, 25 Aug. 1838).
In addition to several detached sermons, he published:
- 'An Essay tending to show in what sense Jesus Christ "hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel,"' Ipswich, 1793, 8vo.
- 'An Essay tending to show the advantages which result to Revelation from its being conveyed to us in the form of History,' Coventry, 1797, 8vo (Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.)
Both these essays gained the Norrisian prize.
[Authorities cited above; also Graduati Cantab, ed. 1856, p. 81; Davy's Athenæ Suffolcienses, iii. 246; Gent. Mag. new ser. vii. 665.]