John Harding (President of Magdalen) facts for kids
John Harding was an important English churchman and scholar who lived a long time ago. He was a professor at Oxford University and later led Magdalen College, Oxford. One of his most famous jobs was helping to translate the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, which is still very well-known today. He even became the leader of one of the translation teams!
John Harding's Life and Work
John Harding started his studies at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was a "demy," which means he was a student who received financial help, like a scholarship. He earned several degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1578 and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1581. Later, he earned degrees in divinity, becoming a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) in 1592 and a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) in 1597.
He became a "Fellow" at Magdalen College, which is like being a senior academic or teacher there. In 1589, he was a "proctor," a university official who helps keep order and manage student affairs.
John Harding also held important church positions. From 1597, he was the rector of Great Haseley in Oxfordshire. A rector is a priest in charge of a local church. In 1604, he became a prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral. This means he was a clergyman who received income from the cathedral, often for special duties.
From 1591 to 1598, he was the Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford. This was a very important teaching role, focusing on the ancient Hebrew language, which is key for understanding the Old Testament of the Bible. Later, in 1607, he became the President of Magdalen College, Oxford, which is the head of the college.
Translating the King James Bible
One of John Harding's most significant contributions was his work on the Authorized King James Version of the Bible. This translation project began in 1604 and aimed to create a new English version of the Bible that would be widely used.
Many scholars and churchmen worked together in different groups. John Harding was part of the First Oxford Company, one of the teams responsible for translating parts of the Old Testament. After John Rainolds, another important scholar, passed away, John Harding took over as the leader of this group. Their hard work helped create one of the most famous and influential English translations of the Bible ever made.
Family Life
John Harding was married to Isabel, who had been married before and was known as Clarke. Together, they had seven children: three sons and four daughters. One of his sons, also named John Harding (who died in 1665), followed in his father's footsteps. He became a rector in Brinkworth and was also known as a translator and alchemist.
