Ezekiel Cheever, an American teacher, born in London, Jan. 25, 1615, died in Boston, Aug. 21, 1708. He was the son of a linen draper, and the pure Latinity of some essays and verses written by him in 1631, and which are still extant among his manuscripts, shows that he had enjoyed superior opportunities of classical training. He came to America in 1637, landing at Boston, and in the following year accompanied Davenport and Eaton to Quinnipiac, and assisted in founding the colony of New Haven. His name appears on the plantation covenant in June, 1630. He was chosen one of the deacons of the church soon after its organization, occasionally officiating as a preacher. He taught a public school there from the foundation of the colony in 1638 till 1650, and represented the town in the general assembly in 1646. He was master of the grammar school in Ipswich, Mass., in 1650-51, when he took charge of the free school in Charlestown, where he taught nine years. In 1670 he was called to Boston to take charge of the free school, now known as the Latin school. In this invitation the governor, magistrates, clergymen, and selectmen of Boston united.

He remained at the head of this school for 38 years, and died at the age of 93, "retaining," says Cotton Mather, who preached his funeral sermon, "his abilities in an unusual degree to the very last, his intellectual force as little abated as his natural." While teaching at New Haven Mr. Cheever prepared the "Accidence, a short Introduction to the Latin Tongue," which in 1785 had run through 20 editions, and was for more than a century the hand-book of the Latin scholars of New England. He was also the author of a little treatise entitled "Scripture Prophecies Explained, in three short Essays."