KIDDER, RICHARD, D.D., successively pre bend of Norwich, dean of Peterborough, and bishop of Bath and Wells. He was born about the year 1633, a.nd, according to Anthony Wood (Athen. Oxon., vol. ii., Fasti i23), at Brighton. He was admitted sizar of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in June 1649, took the degree of B.A. in 1632, and was elected fellow of his college in 1653. In 1662 he was ejected for nonconformity from the vicarage of Stanground, in Huntingdonshire, but conforming soon after, he was presented in 1664 to the rectory of Raine, in Essex. In 1674 the Mer chant Taylors' Company gave him the rectory of St. Martin's Outwich. In 1681 he was made pre bend of Nonvich, and in 1689 dean of Peter borough ; two years afterwards, on the deprivation of Ken, Ile was raised to the see of Bath and Wells. He died Nov. 26, 1703, at Wells, being killed in bed by the fall of a stack of chimneys occasioned by the great storm. His Biblical writings are
1. A Commentary on Me Five Books of Moses ; with a dissertation concerning the author or writer of the said books, and a general argument to each, Lond. 1694, 2 vols. Svo. The notes are exceed ingly brief, and of no great value ; the introductory dissertation is the most useful part of the work.
2. A Denionstration of the Ilfessias ; in which the truth of the Christian religion is _proved agaznst all the enemies thereof ; but especially the yews, Lond. 1713, 3 vols. Svo ; 2d edition, 1726, fol. This work claims to be mentioned here because of the numerous, and oftentimes full, discussions of im portant and difficult scriptural passages which it contains. 3. Critical renzarks on some diffi cult passages of Scripture, Lond. 1725, Svo.— S. N.