Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pory, Robert
PORY or POREY, ROBERT (1608?–1669), archdeacon of Middlesex, son of Robert Pory, was born in London, probably about 1608. He was educated at St. Paul's School under the elder Gill, and went up with his class-fellow, John Milton, to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was admitted a lesser pensioner 28 Feb. 1624-5. He graduated B.A. 1628, M.A. 1632, B.D. 1639, D.D. (per literas regias) 1660. In 1631, on the birth of the Princess Mary, 4 Nov., he contributed to the 'Genethliacum' put forth by his university. On 20 Sept. 1640 he was collated to the rectory of St. Margaret's, New Fish Street, London (which he resigned before 18 Aug. 1660), and in November following to that of Thorley, Hertfordshire. On the breaking out of the civil war he was, according to Newcourt (Repertorium, i. 83 n.), 'plundered and sequestred,' but his name does not appear in Walker's 'Sufferings of the Clergy.'
At the Restoration preferments were showered upon him. On 2 Aug. 1660 he was made D.D. by royal mandate, along with Thomas Fuller and others (Bailey, Life of Fuller, p. 872 n.) On 20 July 1660 he was collated both to the rectory of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate Street, London (resigned before 22 May 1663), and to the archdeaconry of Middlesex (Le Neve, Fasti). The articles on his visitation in 1662 were printed. On 16 Oct. (but, according to Le Neve, 16 Aug.) 1660 he was installed prebendary of Willesden, in the diocese of London, and before the year was out was made chaplain to Archbishop Juxon. In February 1661 he was instituted to the rectory of Hollingbourne, Kent; in 1662 to that of Much Hadham, Hertfordshire; and in the same year to the rectory of Lambeth. On 19 July 1663 he was incorporated D.D. of Oxford. He died before 25 Nov. 1669, when Dr. Henchman was admitted to the rectory of Hadham. Pory was licensed, 21 Sept. 1640, to marry Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Juxon of Chichester, a relative of the archbishop.
It is said that 'Poor Robin's Almanack,' the first edition of which appeared in 1663, was so entitled in derision of him. It professed to bear his imprimatur (Wood, Fasti, pt. ii. col. 267; cf. Peat, Thomas).
[Lansdowne MS. 986; Masson's Life of Milton, i. 79, 88, 603; Foster's Alumni Oxonienses; Gardiner's Admission Registers of St. Paul's School; Lysons's Environs of London, i. 294.]