POCOCK, EDWARD, D. D., 1604-91; b. Oxford, Eng., where he graduated, 1622, having devoted himself chiefly to the Hebrew, Arabic, Chaldee, and languages, prepared a Syriac version of the epistles of Jude, I. and II. Peter, and II. and III. John, in order to complete the New Testament in that language. These were printed at Ley den 1629. Having taken orders in the English church he was appointed chaplain to the factory at Aleppo 1630, where for six years he prosecuted the study of the oriental tongues, acquiring great proficiency in the Arabic, and increasing his knowledge of the Hebrew, Ethiopic, and Syriac; was chosen professor of Arabic at Oxford 1636, and, having entered on his duties there, was sent to Constantinople to continue the study of Arabic, and to collect manuscripts; in 1640 returned home, and edited and translated into Arabic for circulation among Mohammedans the work of Grains on the truth of the Christian religion, published 1660. The Arabic professorship had been endowed by archbithop Laud, but at his death the revenues he had set apart for that purpose were seized. Pocock then devoted himself to study in ,private; was presented by his college with the living of Childrcy 1643; by the exertions of his life-long friend, Selden, was reinstated in the Arabic chair 1647; was made professor, also. of Hebrew 1649; received from the king a rich canonry, which was confirmed to him by the parliament; but, as it was not the one originally annexed to his professorship, he refused to receive the revenue. From this canonry be was ejected 1650; but was allowed to retain his
professorships through the unanimous interposition of all the heads of houses, masters, and scholars at Oxford. In 1655 a plan to deprive him of his living was defeated through the influence of Dr. John Owen and other enlightened men, who strongly urged "the infinite contempt and reproach which would result from such treatment of a man whom all the learned, not of Epgland only, but of all Europe, admired for his vast learn ing and accomplishments." All his attainments were devoted supremely to the work of biblical illustration. He contributed greatly to the completion of Walton's Polyglot; collated the Arabic Pentateuch; drew up an account of Arabic versions; contributed to the English Polyglot which appeared 1657; at the restoration he was restored, 1660, to the canonry of Christ church as originally annexed to the Hebrew professorship. In 1663 he published his translation of Abul-Farays compendium of the general history of the world from the creation to the_end of the 13th c.; 1674, his Arabic translation of the church catechism and the English liturgy; 1677, his commentary on Micah and Malachi; 1685, on Hosea; 1691, on Joel. Of his learning, Hallam says that it was probably equal to that of any scholar whom Europe had produced. In pergon he was of middle height and slender; in conversation, free, affable, and facetious; in temper, modest, huinble, and sincere; in beneficence, equaled by few.