Mark Noble (biographer)

Mark Noble (1754–1827) was an English clergyman, biographer and antiquary.

He was born in Digbeth, Birmingham, the third surviving son of William Heatley Noble, a merchant there. His father sold, among many other commodities, beads, knives, toys, and other trifles which he distributed wholesale among slave traders, and he had also a large mill for rolling silver and for plating purposes. Mark was educated at schools at Yardley, Worcestershire, and Ashbourne, Derbyshire. On the death of his father he inherited a modest fortune, and was articled to Mr. Barber, a solicitor of Birmingham. On the expiration of his indentures he went into business on his own account; but turned to literature and history.

In 1781 he was ordained to the curacies of Baddesley Clinton and Packwood, Warwickshire. On the sudden death of the incumbent, Noble was himself presented to the two livings ('starvations,' he called them). Noble, now a married man, took a house at Knowle, Warwickshire, conveniently situated for both his parishes. Here he divided his interests among his congregation, his books, and a farm.

The Earl of Sandwich supported his writings, and Noble was a frequent guest at Hinchingbrooke House, and a regular correspondent of Lord Sandwich. Lord Leicester also became a patron, and appointed Noble his chaplain. On the recommendation of Sandwich and Leicester Lord Chancellor Thurlow presented Noble to the rectory of Barming, Kent in 1786, where he lived for 42 years.

He was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London on 1 March 1781; and was also F.S.A. of Edinburgh. In 1816, he was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society. He died at Barming on 26 May 1827, and was buried in the church, where a monument was erected to his memory.

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