HOOKER, otherwise VOWELL, JOHN, an English historian, born at Exeter about 1524. His father, Robert Hooker, was mayor of that city in 1529. John Hooker was bred at Oxford, but whether in Exeter or Corpus Christi College, Wood was uncertaiu. He afterwards tra velled in Germany, and studied law at Cologuo. Soon after his return to England in 1554, he was made chamberlain of his native city, being the first person who held that office. Ho was subsequently scut into Ireland upon the affairs of Sir Peter Carew, and was elected burgess for Athcnry in the parliament of 1568. In 1571 he represented Exeter in the parliament of England. His printed works were :-1. ' The Order and Usage of Keeping of the Parliaments in England,' 4to, London, 1572 ; written for the purpose of regulating and couductiug the proceedings of the parliament of Ireland. 2. 'The Events of Comets or Blazing Stars made upon the Sight of the Comet Pagania, which appeared in November and December, 1577,' !to, Loudon, 1577.
3. ' The Description of the Cittie of Excester,' 4to. 4. ' A Pamphlet of the Offices and Duties of everie particular sworuo Officer of the Cittio of Excester,'4to, London, 1584. 5. 'A Catalogue of the Bishops of Exceater,' 4to, London, 1584. The three last articles were reprinted together at Exeter, 4to, 1765. Hooker was also the principal editor of Holitiehed's ' Chronicles' in 1596, which he greatly augmented and continued, more particularly in what related Ireland. He also added to Holinahed a translation of Giraldus Cambrensis Ha died in 1601, and was buried in the cathedral of Exeter, (Wood, Ath. Ox., last edition, vol. L, p. 713; Herbert, Typogr. Antiq.; Prince, Worthies of Devon; Tanner, Biu. Brit. Hub.)