Background
Born in London, he was younger son of Robert Tyrwhitt (1698–1742), residentiary canon of Street Paul"s Cathedral, by his wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edmund Gibson, bishop of London.
Born in London, he was younger son of Robert Tyrwhitt (1698–1742), residentiary canon of Street Paul"s Cathedral, by his wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edmund Gibson, bishop of London.
He entered as a pensioner at Jesus College, Cambridge on 9 March 1753, and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1757, Master of Arts
In 1760. On 3 November 1759 he was admitted Fellow of his college. He was early influenced by the theological writings of Samuel Clarke, but he went much further, renounced the doctrine of the 39 Articles, and took part with John Jebb in the movement (1771-1772) for abolishing subscription to the articles at graduation. In 1777 he resigned his fellowship, and ceased to attend the college chapel, though still residing in college.
From about 1808 he was confined to his rooms by gout.
He published two sermons preached before the university, and a reprint (1787) of his two papers in Commentaries and Essays. He left money to the University of Cambridge, used to found the Tyrwhitt Hebrew scholarships.
On 5 January 1784, he became a member of the largely Unitarian Society for Promoting the Knowledge of the Scriptures, and contributed papers to the society"s Commentaries and Essays.