Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kynaston, John
KYNASTON, JOHN (1728–1783), author, born on 5 Dec. 1728, was son of Humphrey Kynaston, mercer. On 20 Feb. 1744–5 he was admitted to Manchester grammar school; proceeded with an exhibition to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he matriculated on 20 March 1745–6; was elected a scholar on 1 Aug. following, and graduated B.A. in 1749, M.A. in 1752 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, ii. 807). He was elected fellow on 14 June 1751, and died at Wigan in June 1783.
Kynaston published in 1761 a Bridgman oration spoken in Brasenose College chapel, ‘De Impietate C. Cornelio Tacito falso objectata.’ In 1764 he issued ‘A Collection of Papers relative to the Prosecution now carrying on in the Chancellor's Court in Oxford against Mr. Kynaston, by Matthew Maddock, Clerk, … for the charge of Adultery alleged against the said M. Maddock.’ He was a frequent contributor to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine.’ Nichols, in his ‘Literary Anecdotes’ (ii. 42 n.), acknowledges valuable help from Kynaston. The Latin inscription on the monument of Dr. Peter Francis le Courayer [q. v.] in Westminster Abbey was written by him. He also took an active part in behalf of Mary Blandy [q. v.]
[Smith's Reg. Manchester Grammar School (Chetham Soc.), i. 27, 224; Chalmers's Biog. Dict. xix. 435–7; Gent. Mag. LIII. ii. 627–8, 803.]