Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clapham, Samuel
CLAPHAM, SAMUEL (1755–1830), divine, born at Leeds in 1755, was educated by his father in his native town, and at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1778 and M.A. in 1784 (Graduati Cantab. edit. 1856, 76). He became curate of Yarm, Yorkshire, in 1790, and vicar of Great Ouseburn, in the same county, in 1797. As a remuneration for his abridgment of Bishop Pretyman’s ‘Elements of Christian Theology,’ that prelate obtained for him the vicarage of Christchurch, Hampshire, in 1802 (Biog. Dict. of Living Authors, pp. 63, 421). In 1806 he was instituted to the rectory of Gussage St. Michael, Dorsetshire. He died at Sidmouth on 1 June 1830 (Gent. Mag. c. (i.) 646).
Besides numerous occasional discourses he published: 1. Abridgment of Bishop Pretyman’s ‘Elements of Theology,’ 1802. 2. ‘Sermons selected and abridged, chiefly from minor authors,’ 3 vols. 1803–11, 5th edit. 2 vols. Lond. 1830. 3. ‘Practical Sermons on several important subjects,’ 2nd edit. Lond. 1804, 8vo, 3rd edit. 2 vols. Lond. 1808, 8vo. 4. A translation of Massillon’s ‘Charges’ under the assumed name of Theophilus St. John, LLB., 1805 and 1806. 5. ‘Sermons selected from the works of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Clarke,’ in opposition to the tenets of Methodism and Calvinism, with some account of his life, 1806. 6. ‘English Grammar taught by examples rather than by rules of Syntax,’ 1810. 7. ‘Prayers selected from the several writings of Jeremy Taylor,’ 1816. 8. ‘A collection of the several Points of Sessions’ Law, alphabetically arranged,’ 2 vols. Lond. 1818. 9. ‘The Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses, illustrated; containing an explication of the phraseology incorporated with the text,’ 1818.
[Authorities cited above; also Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.; Butterworth's Law Cat. p. 45; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 728.]