(1662-1714) Humble Welsh-born English pastor and scholar. Henry was the son of a well known Nonconformist minister and was ordained a Presbyterian in 1687. Matthew was Philip Henryís second son. Born prematurely, he was sickly during his childhood. He could read portions of the Bible when he was only three years old and according to his own account, was converted before eleven years of age. Henry was educated by his gifted father until he was eighteen. After 1662, Nonconformists like Henry were barred from graduating from either Oxford or Cambridge, so various Nonconformist academies were organized to train young men for ministry. Henry attended an academy where he was taught by the eminent Presbyterian scholar, Thomas Doolittle (1631-1797), who had been converted as a boy in Kidderminster under the preaching of Richard Baxter. He went on to become a successful pastor and Bible commentator. He died while travelling and preaching from town to town. Henry is best known for his thorough yet simple Matthew Henry's Commentaries in six volumes.
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