Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Glasse, Samuel
GLASSE, SAMUEL, D.D. (1735–1812), theologian, son of the Rev. Richard Glasse of Purton, Wiltshire, born in 1735, was a scholar of Westminster School from 1749 to 1752, when he was elected a junior student of Christ Church, Oxford (4 June). He proceeded B.A. in 1756, M.A. in 1759, and accumulated the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 7 Dec. 1769. In 1764 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1772 chaplain in ordinary to his majesty. His first preferment was the rectory of St. Mary's, Hanwell, Middlesex, which he afterwards resigned in favour of his son, George Henry Glasse [q. v.] in 1785. The church was rebuilt during his residency, and he contributed largely towards the new edifice. In 1782 he became vicar of Epsom, and four years later rector of Wanstead, Essex. He was appointed to the prebend of Shalford in the cathedral of Wells in 1791, which he retained until 1798, when he was installed as prebendary of Oxgate in St. Paul's Cathedral. He died in Sackville Street, Piccadilly, on 27 April 1812, in his seventy-ninth year. Glasse was the intimate friend of George Horne, bishop of Norwich.
Glasse was a popular and eloquent preacher, and an active country magistrate. The sermons he delivered before public bodies and on behalf of special charities were often printed between 1773 and 1803. In 1777 he translated and edited a French work, entitled ‘Address from a Lady of Quality to her Children in the Last Stage of a Lingering Illness,’ Gloucester, 1778, 2 vols. 8vo. He felt a keen sympathy with Raikes in his organisation of Sunday schools, and was the author of ‘The Piety, Wisdom, and Policy of promoting Sunday Schools,’ London, 1786, 4to, and of an article in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,’ lvii. 11, January 1788, entitled ‘A Short Sketch and Character of Mr. Raikes.’ He published in 1787 ‘A Narrative of Proceedings tending towards a National Reforming previous to, and consequent upon, his Majesty's Royal Proclamation for the Suppression of Vice and Immorality. In a Letter to a Friend, &c. by a Country Magistrate,’ London, 1787, 8vo. He likewise assisted Man Godscall in his pamphlet, ‘A General Plan of Parochial and Provincial Police,’ London, 1787, 8vo.
[Welch's Alumni Westmon. pp. 349, 358, 359, 534; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Lysons's Environs, ii. 553; Manning's Surrey, ii. 623; Malcolm's Lond. Red. iii. 20; Nichols's Lit. Hist. ix. 131; Gent. Mag. lii. 552, lvi. 719, lxi. 686; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Life of Bishop Horne, by C. Jones, i. 41.]