Thomas Ren, an English bishop, born at Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, in July, 1637, died at Longleat, Wiltshire, March 19, 1711. He was educated at Winchester and Oxford, took orders, visited Rome in 1674 in company with his nephew, Izaak Walton, jr., and after his return in 1679 was nominated chaplain to Mary princess of Orange, whom he accompanied to Holland. He was chaplain to Lord Dartmouth during the expedition against Tangier, and in 1684 became chaplain to Charles II., who subsequently made him bishop of Bath and Wells. Ken attended the king in his last illness. Having refused to read in his church the declaration of indulgence issued by the government of James II., he was with the other six recusants committed to the tower. When, however, after the revolution, Ken was required to swear allegiance to the new sovereign, rather than do so he suffered himself to be deprived of his bishopric, and retired into obscurity and comparative poverty. He was the author of many devotional writings, the most popular of which are his morning and evening hymns.

An edition of his works, in 4 vols. 8vo, was published in 1721. - See his "Life," by G. L. Duyckinck (New York, 1859).