Robert Jenkin (ca. 1656-1721)

Robert Jenkin graduated BA at St John's in 1678, became a Fellow in 1680, and proceeded MA in 1681. He then took holy orders and became vicar of Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire, as well as chaplain to John Lake, Bishop of Chichester. His mentor was to be placed in the Tower for his opposition to James II's ecclesiastical policy, and Jenkin was to publish an attack on the King's Roman Catholicism in support. Like his tutor at St John's, Francis Roper, however, he felt unable to swear the oaths of allegiance to James's successors, William and Mary, and had to go into retirement, although he retained his Fellowship. Eventually he was to renounce this position and was admitted to the degree of DD in 1709, before becoming Master of St John's in 1711. While Master, Jenkin was forced to eject the remaining non-jurors, including Thomas Baker, which many perceived as an act of betrayal. Jenkin was to drift into senility before his death in 1727.

Jenkin's gift to the Library

It appears that Jenkin gave over 700 volumes to the Library, perhaps his entire collection. These are chiefly volumes on theology, faith and allegiance from the 17th and early 18th centuries, although there are some earlier texts, as well as some classical authors.

Provenance markings

Volumes given by Jenkin carry a standardised inscription, usually on the inside of the front cover.