Lorkin, Thomas (1528 -1591)

Thomas Lorkin, son of Thomas Lorkin and Joan Huxley, was born at Frindsbury in Kent about 1528. He matriculated at Pembroke Hall in Cambridge12 November 1549, graduated B.A. in 1552, and took his M.A. in 1555, and his M.D, in 1560. He was a Fellow of Queens’, but from 15 November 1554 until 1562 was a Fellow of Peterhouse. He published Recta regula et victus ratio pro studiosis et literatis (London, 1562). On 21 April 1564 he was created Regius Professor of Medicine. In the same year he was respondent in the Medical Act before the Queen. In 1590 he obtained grants of arms for the four professors at Cambridge. The arms for the Professor of Medicine are Azure a fess ermine between three lozenges or, on a chief gules a lion passant gardant or, on its side a letter M sable. The crest is a pentagram argent. From 1572 to 1585 he was Rector of Little Waltham in Essex. He married Catherine, daughter of John Hatcher, and they had five daughters. He died 1 May 1591. In his will he left his books on physic to the University Library. About 140 volumes reached the University Library in December 1594.