Richard Whately

WHATELY, Richard. b. London, 1 February 1787; d. near Dublin, 8 October 1863. Born in London, the son of a political family of some distinction. He was educated at a private school in Bristol and at Oriel College, Oxford (BA 1808, MA 1812). He was elected a fellow of Oriel in 1812, and exercised a stimulating if bracing influence on his pupils and colleagues, including the young John Henry Newman* (from whom he later diverged). He gave up his fellowship on his marriage in 1821, becoming rector of Halesworth, Suffolk (1822-25). He returned to Oxford in 1825 as principal of a hall of residence, St Alban’s Hall (now part of Merton College), reforming its slackness; he was appointed Archbishop...