Thomas Smoult

The professorship was founded in 1677 by John Knightbridge, a vicar of Spofforth in Yorkshire and Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

[1] Thomas Smoult was born in Lathom, Lancashire, the son of Edward (Edmund) a gentleman.

Smoult matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge in 1651 aged 19, graduating BA in 1654/5, MA in 1659, BD in 1666, DD in 1684.

[3] In his will[4] Smoult bequeathed £100 for the purchase of books for the library at St John's.

[5] Bexley National School, London was built from an earlier endowment by him to the parish in 1703.