John Mapletoft facts for kids

John Mapletoft (1631–1721) was an important English person who was both a clergyman (a religious leader) and a physician (a doctor). He lived a long life and was known for his work in medicine, religion, and helping different societies.

John Mapletoft's Life Story

Early Years and Education

John Mapletoft was born on June 15, 1631, in Margaretting, Essex. His father, Joshua Mapletoft, was a vicar and rector. After his father passed away in 1635, John was raised by his godfather, Nicholas Ferrar, at the Little Gidding community.

In 1647, John went to Westminster School. The next year, in 1648, he started studying at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1652 and became a fellow (a senior member) of his college in 1653. He also studied law for a short time. From 1658 to 1660, he worked as a tutor for the son of the Earl of Northumberland.

A Doctor in London

After working as a tutor, John Mapletoft traveled abroad to study medicine. He earned his M.D. degree in Cambridge in 1667. When he returned to London to practice medicine, he met many famous people. He became very close friends with John Locke, a well-known philosopher. Mapletoft is said to have introduced Locke to other important figures like the doctor Thomas Sydenham. For seven years, Mapletoft worked closely with Sydenham in medical practice.

In 1670, he traveled with the Earl of Essex on an important trip to Denmark. He also traveled to France in 1672 and 1676 with the Dowager Duchess of Northumberland. In 1675, he became a Professor of Physic at Gresham College in London. This meant he taught medicine there.

Becoming a Clergyman

In 1679, John Mapletoft decided to stop practicing medicine. He wanted to become a clergyman instead. He had some questions about signing a religious document called the Thirty-nine Articles, but he discussed them with his friend Simon Patrick. On March 3, 1683, he became both a deacon and a priest.

He was given the job of rector at Braybrooke in Northamptonshire, which he held until 1686. Even though he didn't live there, he helped the community a lot. In 1686, he became the vicar of St. Lawrence Jewry in London. He continued to preach there until he was over eighty years old. In 1689-90, he earned his D.D. degree (Doctor of Divinity) from Cambridge. From then on, he focused his life on religion and helping others.

Helping Others and Societies

John Mapletoft was involved in many important groups. In 1672, he was one of the first members of the Company of Adventurers to the Bahamas, a group that invested in the Bahamas. He later transferred his share to his friend John Locke.

He was also elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1676. This was a famous group dedicated to advancing science. As long as he was a doctor, he took part in their discussions and experiments. In 1699, he joined the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a group that worked to spread Christian teachings. He also helped start and actively supported the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which was created in 1701 to spread Christianity in other countries. He was also a generous supporter of Sion College and one of the commissioners for Greenwich Hospital.

John Mapletoft spent his last ten years living with his daughter. He remained healthy in mind and body almost until the very end. He passed away in Westminster on November 10, 1721, at the age of 90. He was buried in the church of St. Lawrence Jewry.

John Mapletoft's Writings

John Mapletoft wrote several books and sermons. Some of his published works include:

• Select Proverbs (published anonymously in 1707). This was a collection of wise sayings.
• The Principles and Duties of the Christian Religion (1710, 1712, 1719). This book explained Christian beliefs and duties.
• Wisdom from Above (published anonymously in 1714, with a second part in 1717).
• Placita Principalia, seu Sententiae perutiles e Dramaticis fere Poetis (1714).
• Placita Principalia et Concilia, seu Sententiae perutiles Philosophorum (1717, 1731). These last two books were collections of useful sayings from Greek writers, translated into Latin.

He also wrote three lectures about the history of medicine, which were published later. Mapletoft also wrote the epitaph (a short text on a tombstone) for his friend Isaac Barrow in Westminster Abbey.

It is believed that John Mapletoft translated some of his friend Sydenham's medical works from English into Latin. This included Sydenham's Observationes Medicae, which was dedicated to Mapletoft.

His Family

On November 18, 1679, John Mapletoft married Rebecca Knightley. Rebecca passed away on their fourteenth wedding anniversary, November 18, 1693.

They had two sons and one daughter:

• Robert, born in 1684, became a lawyer and died in 1716.
• John, born in 1687, became a rector (a type of clergyman) in Northamptonshire. He married Ann Walker in 1721 and passed away in 1763.
• Elizabeth married Francis Gastrell, who became the Bishop of Chester, in 1703. She died in 1761.