Author: Coombe, Thomas
Biography:
Coombe, Thomas (1747-1822: ODNB)
Born in Philadelphia, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Rutter) Coombe, he graduated from the College of Philadelphia (later the University of Pennsylvania) with a BA in 1766 and MA in 1768. He then spent four years in England, where he was ordained and served as chaplain to the Marquess of Rockingham. In 1772 he returned to Philadelphia, where he proved to be an eloquent and powerful preacher. He preached in favour of the colonies, but as a matter of conscience, given the allegiance he had pledged to the King upon ordination, he could not swear to uphold the Declaration of Independence. He was sentenced to prison but instead returned to England in 1779 and spent the rest of his life there as a highly valued clergyman, chaplain to the Earl of Carlisle and then to the King. By two marriages, to Sarah Ann Leake (1773) and after her death to Elizabeth Chassereau (1784), he had four children who survived him--at least two of them also clergymen. (ODNB 7 May 2018)
Other Names:
- T. Coombe