William Perkins (1558–1602) was a clergyman and Cambridge theologian who was one of the foremost leaders of the Puritan movement in the Church of England.
William Perkins matriculated as a pensioner in 1577; BA 1580/1; MA 1584. Fellow 1584-95; Dean 1590-91; accused of excessive Puritanism before V.C. 1587.1591. In his early days he was a bad character who was converted by hearing himself described as "drunken Perkins yonder". An unflinching Calvinist, who pronounced the word "damn" with wonder working emphasis. He was studied as an authority little inferior to Hooker and Calvin. He died of the stone aged 44 in 1602 and was buried at the cost of the College in Great St. Andrews Church where he had lectured all his life. The inscription reads: "Perkins theol obiit Cantab 1602 effigies doctis viri Gulielmi. William Perkins of Christ's College in Cambridge. Borne at Marstone in Warwickshire; a learned divine wrote manie learned workes dispersed through Great Brittaine, France, Germaine, low countries, and Spaine. Manie translated into the French, German and Italian tongues: a man industrious and painful, who though he were lame of his right hand wrote all with his left. He died at Cambridge in 1602" [PBR I pp141]
Physische Beschaffenheit
William Perkins (1558–1602) was a clergyman and Cambridge theologian who was one of the foremost leaders of the Puritan movement in the Church of England.
