Zachariah Mudge (clergyman)

Zachariah Mudge (1694–1769) was an English clergyman, known for his sermons, and his deist or Platonist views.

He was born at Exeter, and after attending its grammar school was sent in 1710 to the nonconformist academy of Joseph Hallett III. When there he fell in love with a certain Mary Fox, who refused to take him seriously. He went on the road for London, but returned to Exeter after three weeks of hard knocks. In 1711 George Trosse, who had paid for his schooling, died and left Mudge half of his library, including a number of Hebrew works.

About 1713 he left Hallett's, and became second master in the school of John Reynolds, vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle in Exeter. John Reynolds's son Samuel, master of Exeter grammar school, was the father of Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Mudge soon became the intimate friend of three generations of the family. Mudge was painted on three separate occasions by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in 1761, 1762, and 1766.

In 1714 he married his former love, Mary Fox. In the winter of 1717–18 he left Exeter to become master of Bideford grammar school. While at Bideford he entered into a long correspondence with Stephen Weston, Bishop of Exeter on the doctrines of the Church of England, which resulted in his giving up on nonconformist ministry and becoming an Anglican; he sent money to the West of England Nonconformist Association for the expenses of his education.

He was ordained deacon in the Church of England on 21 September 1729, and priest on the following day. In December of the same year he was instituted to the living of Abbotsham, near Bideford, on the presentation of Peter King, 1st Baron King, and in August 1732 he obtained the living of St. Andrew's, Plymouth. Mudge was made a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral in 1736.

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