Thomas Thurlin graduated BA from St John's in 1654-5, before proceeding MA and BD, and becoming a Fellow. He was President of the College for thirty years and Rector of Gaywood in Norfolk.

Thurlin's bequest

Thurlin left about £300 to the College Library, and this appears to have been used to purchase fairly contemporary texts of an historical nature.

Provenance markings

The books bought with Thurlin's money simply bear a book label detailing his bequest. Translated it reads:

From the gift of Thomas Thurlin DD, for fifty-seven years a most beloved Fellow of this College, for thirty years a most worthy President: who, as a singular example of his love and gratitude bequeathed to us almost all his goods, to the value of more than one thousand pounds, of which above three hundred he gave to this Library to be spent on buying books. In the year of our Lord 1714.