Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Corbet, Clement
CORBET, CLEMENT (d. 1652), civilian, was the sixth son of Sir Miles Corbet of Sprowston, Norfolk, who was high sheriff of that county in 1591, by Katherine, daughter of Sir Christopher Heydon (Visitation of Norfolk in 1563, ed. Dashwood, i. 35). He was admitted a scholar of Trinitv Hall, Cambridge, on 7 Dec. 1592, took the degree of LL.B. in 1598, was elected a fellow of his college on 10 Dec. the same year, and was created LL.D. in 1605. In May 1607 he was chosen professor of law at Gresham College, London, and he occupied that chair till November 1613 (Ward, Lives of the Gresham Professors, with the Author's MS. Notes, p. 238). On the death of Dr. John Cowell he was elected to succeed him in the mastership of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 12 Oct. 1611, being at that time chancellor of the diocese of Chichester (Le Neve, Fasti, ed. Hardy, iii. 679). On 9 May 1612 he was admitted a member of the College of Advocates at Doctors' Commons (Coote, English Civilians, p. 71). He was vice-chancellor of Cambridge in 1613-14 (Addit. MS. 5866, f. 34). In 1625 he was appointed vicar-general and principal official to the bishop of Norwich, and the following year he resigned the mastership of Trinity Hall (Le Neve, Fasti, ii. 496). He died on 28 May 1652, and was buried in the chancel of Belaugh church, Norfolk, where a monument, with a Latin inscription, was erected to his memory (Le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana, Suppl. p. 10, No. 21; Blomefield, Norfolk, ed. 1808, viii. 189). By his wife Elizabeth Kemp, he had one son, Samuel, and five daughters. The portrait of him which is preserved in the master's lodge at Trinity Hall was bequeathed to that society by Thomas Baker the antiquary (Addit. MS. 5807, ff. 110b, 111).
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