1488-1569. English Protestant priest whose
translation of the Bible 1535 was the first
to be printed in English. His translation of
the psalms is that retained in the Book of
Common Prayer. Coverdale, born in Yorkshire,
became a Catholic priest, but turned to
Protestantism and in 1528 went to the
continent to avoid persecution. In 1539 he
edited the Great Bible which was ordered to
be placed in churches. After some years in
Germany, he returned to England in 1548, and
in 1551 was made bishop of Exeter. During the
reign of Mary he left the country.