Author: Kett, Henry
Biography:
KETT, Henry (1761-1825: ODNB)
Widely known in his own time as the author of a basic textbook, "Kett's General Knowledge," he was born in Norwich, the son of Mary (Slater) and Benjamin Kett. He was a scholarship student at Trinity College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1777. Ordained deacon in 1783 and priest in 1785, from 1784 to 1823 he was a Fellow of Trinity. In Dec. 1823 he married Maria White of Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, and went to live there. In 1825, however, on a visit to a friend at Stanwell, Middlesex, he drowned while swimming and according to instructions in his will was buried at Stanwell. He had been a capable preacher, a successful tutor, and a good citizen of his college. The publication of Juvenile Poems in 1793 was intended to support his application for the position of Professor of Poetry at Oxford, but in that attempt he failed. He held a number of livings in the Church: perpetual curate of Elsfield 1785-1804; vicar of Sutton Benger 1812-14; perpetual curate of North Hykeham 1814-25. His published work is miscellaneous. It included sermons, contributions to GM, an anthology of humour (The Flowers of Wit, 1814), translations, biographies, and prefaces, but is most remarkable for Kett's contributions to education in Elements of General Knowledge (1802, 31 editions by 2016) and Emily, a Moral Tale; including Letters from a Father to his Daughter, upon the Most Important Subjects (1809, 9 editions by 1811). (ODNB 28 May 2021; ancestry.com 28 May 2021; findmypast.com 28 May 2021; CCEd 28 May 2021) HJ