Theophilus Higgons (c.1578-1659) was an English divine and convert to Catholicism.[1]
The son of Robert Higgons, he was born at Chilton, near Brill, Buckinghamshire, and was educated partly in the free school at Thame in Oxfordshire. In November 1592 he became a student of Christ Church, Oxford, at the age of 14. He proceeded B.A. 20 October 1597, and M.A. 4 June 1600.[1]
Higgons was inclined to Puritanism, and while censor at Christ Church he sawed down the maypole. On the promotion of Thomas Ravis, Dean of Christ Church, as Bishop of Gloucester, Higgons became his domestic chaplain, continuing with him till his translation to London, when he became lecturer at St Dunstan Fleet Street, and was much followed as preacher. After he had been established there for some time, Higgons gave offence by a marriage. He therefore left his wife and went into the North of England, but soon returned.[1]
Higgons became discontented; and was converted to Roman Catholicism, probably John Floyd. He went to France and spent two years at Douai and the College of St. Omer, where his father went to try to bring him to Protestantism. He went on to Rouen, where he lived for some time; but he found no preferment as a Catholic.[1]
Higgons was reconverted to Protestantism by Thomas Morton, who had replied to one of his books. He then became rector of Hunton, Kent, near Maidstone. During the First English Civil War his living was sequestered, and he was taken into the house of a Daniel Collins of Maidstone. He died there in 1659 and was buried in Maidstone churchyard.[1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.