MARSH, HERBERT, D. D., Bishop of Peter borough, one of the acutest and most tnily learned divines of his day, was born in 1757, entered St. John's Coll., Cambridge, as a sizar in 1776, where he greatly distinguished himself; taking his B.A. degree as second wrangler and second Smith's prizeman in 1779 ; was elected Fellow of his col lege, and became M. A. in 1782. The next year he visited Germany, and resided sonic years at Gottingen, but on the approach of the French armies he returned home, and resumed his duties at Cambridge and became B. D. in 1792. In 1793 the trial of the notorious Frend, and his consequent banishment from the university, took place, after which, as his relative and confidential friend, Marsh's position became so unpleasant that he resolved to return to Germany, and took up his residence at Leipsic. While there, lie published a German pamphlet to prove that the French were the ag gressors in the war, which, together with some important political information he transmitted to the home government, so ingratiated him with Pitt that he granted him a pension of £500. He returned to England in 'Soo, and succeeded Dr. Mainwaring as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity in 1807, in which capacity he delivered English instead of Latin lectures, which were afterwards published, and went through several editions. He received the degree of D.D. by royal mandate in 1808. In 1816 he was appointed Bishop of Llandaff, whence, in 1819, he was removed to the see of Peter borough, which lie held till his death, May 1, 1839.
As a bishop he had the reputation of being atten tive to his clergy, prompt and exact in the dispatch of business, liberal in his views, of great benevo lence, and much beloved by his friends. During his episcopate he was embroiled in many contro versies, some of which occasioned much heat and bitterness. His contributions to theological litera ture evidence unwearied assiduity in research, ex treme acuteness, and clearness of expression. His great work is his translation of J. D. Michaelis' Introduction to the N. T., to which he appended very valuable notes, and a most able and searching disquisition on the Origin and Composition of the Three First Gospels, the publication of which formed an epoch in theological literature both in England and on the Continent. Of his other works, we may specify—(r.) Lectures on Divinity, with an account of the principal authors who have excelled in theological learning, in seven parts, Camb. 1809-23 ; Lond. 1838. (2.) Essay on the useful ness and necessity of Theological Learning to those designed for Holy Orders, 1792. (3.) The Authen ticity of the Five Books of Moses, 1792. (4.) Com parative View of the Churches of England and Rome, Camb. 1814; third edit. Lond. I841.—E. V.