John Moore (bishop of Ely)

John Moore (1646–1714) was an English cleric, scholar, and book collector. He was bishop of Norwich (1691–1707) and bishop of Ely (1707–1714). Bishop John Moore is descended from the Ancient family of De La Moor (later Moore), of Moorhayes, Cullompton, Devonshire, England (see Visitations of the county of Devonshire 1620 page 573).

Moore was born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, the son of an ironmonger. He was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge where he subsequently became a Fellow in 1667. Rector of Blaby in Leicestershire from 1676 to 1687, he subsequently became Rector of St Ann's, Westminster and St Andrew, Holborn. By 1670 he was in the household of Heneage Finch, later Earl of Nottingham and served as his Chaplain. He supported the Glorious Revolution and was appointed a Royal Chaplain. He was appointed Bishop of Norwich in 1691 and translated to the much richer see of Ely in 1707. He died in Ely on 31 July 1714 and is buried in the Cathedral. He married twice firstly to Rose, daughter of Neville Thomas Alexander Butler and Cicely Aglionby, secondly to Dorothy, daughter of William Barnes of Sadberge, Co. Durham, widow of Sir Richard Browne, Bart (killed in Flanders in 1689 by Colonel Billingsley), as her third husband.

At the time of his death in 1714, Moore's collection of books and papers contained over 30,000 items, and may have been the largest in England. To celebrate his coronation, King George I caused it to be purchased intact, at a cost of 6,000 guineas, and donated to Cambridge University Library. Moore's library alone contained nearly twice the material in the existing University library. While some material has been removed over the years, the gift is still largely intact, and is called The Royal Library in honour of its patron. Notable books in his library include the Book of Deer and the Treatise of Love.

The Coat of Arms of Moore of Moorhayes, Cullompton, Devon, can be seen in both Norwich and Ely Cathedrals.