Huntington, Robert

, a learned English divine, was born at Deorhyrst in Gloucestershire, where his father was minister, in 1636. Having been educated in school learning at Bristol, he was sent to Merton-college, Oxford, of which in due time he was chosen fellow. He went through the usual course of arts and sciences with great applause, and then applied himself most diligently to divinity and the Oriental languages. The latter became afterwards of infinite service to him, for he was chosen, chaplain to the English factory at Aleppo, and sailed from England in Sept. 1670. During his eleven years’ residence in this place, he applied himself particularly to search out and procure manuscripts; and for this purpose maintained a correspondence with the learned and eminent of every profession and degree, which his knowledge in the Eastern, languages, and especially the Arabic, enabled him to do. He travelled also for his diversion and improvement, not only into the adjacent, but even into distant places; and after having carefully visited almost all Galilee and Samaria, he went to Jerusalem. In 1677 he went into Cyprus; and the year after undertook a journey of 150 miles, for the sake of beholding the venerable ruins of the once noble and glorious city of Palmyra; but, instead of having an opportunity of viewing the place, he and they that were with him were very near being destroyed by two Arabian princes, who had taken possession of those parts. He had better success in a journey to Egypt in 1680, where he met with several curiosities and manuscripts, and had the pleasure of conversing with John Lascaris, archbishop of mount Sinai.

In 1682 he embarked, and landed in Italy; and having visited Rome, Naples, and other places, taking Paris in his way, where he stayed a few weeks, he arrived, after many dangers and difficulties, safe in his own country. He retired immediately to his fellowship at Merton college; and in 1683 took the degrees in divinity. About the same time, through the recommendation of bishop Fell, he was | appointed master of Trinity college in Dublin, and went over thither, though against his will; but the troubles that happened in Ireland at the Revolution forced him back for a time into England; and though he returned after the reduction of that kingdom, yet he resigned his mastership in 1691, and came home, with an intention to quit it no more. In the mean time he sold for 700l. his fine collection of Mss. to the curators of the Bodleian library having before made a present of thirty- five. In 1692 he was presented by sir Edward Tumor to the rectory of Great Hallingbury in Essex, and the same year he married. He was offered about that time the bishopric of Kilmore in Ireland, but refused it; in 1701, however, he accepted that of Raphoe, and was consecrated in Christ-church, Dublin, Aug. 20. He survived his consecration but twelve days, for he died Sept. 2, in his 66th year, and was buried in Trinity college chapel.

All that he published himself was, “An Account of the Porphyry Pillars in Egypt,” in the “Philosophical Transactions, No. 161.” Some of his “Observations” are printed in "A Collection of curious Travels and Voyages,' in two vols. 8vo, by Mr. J. Ray; and thirty-nine of his letters, chiefly written while he was abroad, were published by Dr. T. Smith, at the end of his life. ¹