William Powell (Archdeacon of Colchester)

William Powell
Archdeacon of Colchester
Church	Church of England
Personal details
Nationality	British

English Anglican priest

William Samuel Powell, D.D. (1717–1775) was an eighteenth century academic and priest, most notably Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1765 until 1766; and Archdeacon of Colchester from 1766 until his death. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1764.

Life

He was born on 27 September 1717 in Colchester, the elder son of the Rev. Francis Powell and his wife Susan Reynolds, daughter of Samuel Reynolds (died 1694), Member of Parliament for Colchester. He was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School, under Palmer Smythies. He was admitted in 1734, and matriculated 1738, at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1739, M.A. in 1742, B.D. in 1749, and D.D in 1749.

Academic career

Powell was successively Fellow, tutor, taxor and Master of St John's.

In 1741 Powell became private tutor to Charles Townshend, second son of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend. At the end of that year he was ordained deacon and priest, and was presented on 13 January 1742 by Lord Townshend to the rectory of Colkirk in Norfolk, with Stibbard. In 1742 he returned to college life, and, after reading lectures for two years as assistant tutor, was promoted in 1744 to be principal tutor, and acted in 1745 as senior taxor of the university. In Cambridge his main friends were Thomas Balguy and Richard Hurd. William Mason, who was then an undergraduate at St John's tutored by Powell, referred in a contemporary poem to "gentle Powell's placid mien."

On 3 November 1760 Powell became a senior Fellow of his college, and in 1761, when he had inherited the property of his cousin, he left Cambridge and took a house in London. He resigned his fellowship in 1763.

On 25 January 1765 Powell was unanimously elected Master of St John's College, Cambridge, where he spent the rest of his life; there were numerous competitors for the post, but he was backed by the influence of Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle. The following November, he succeeded to the vice-chancellorship of the university, and in December 1766 he was appointed by the crown to the archdeaconry of Colchester.

In 1768 Powell claimed the college rectory of Freshwater, Isle of Wight, worth £500 per annum, which was in the option of the master, and resigned the benefices of Colkirk and Stibbard; the Fellows disliked this act. He gave money to the college when it was intended to rebuild the first court and to lay out the gardens under the care of Capability Brown. He guarded the college revenues. In his first year he established college examinations, drawing up the papers himself, and attending the examinations; but he opposed John Jebb's proposal for annual examinations of the whole university. He helped several undergraduates financially and gave prizes at his own expense; he did not allow any student to pass without examination in one of the Gospels or the Acts of the Apostles. He himself attended chapel without a break through the whole year, at six o'clock in the morning. His manners, however, were "rigid and unbending."

About 1770 Powell suffered a stroke of apoplexy, and he died in his chair, from a fit of the palsy, on 19 January 1775. He was buried in the college chapel on 25 January. Over his vault was placed a flat blue stone, with an epitaph by Balguy. He was unmarried.

Works

While at Cambridge, Powell twice provoked serious controversy.

There was printed in 1757, and reprinted in 1758, 1759, and 1772, a sermon, entitled A Defence of the Subscriptions required in the Church of England, which he had preached before the university on Commencement Sunday. He contended that the 39 Articles were general and indeterminate, and "left room for improvements in theology". These views were widely criticised, with Powell's major public opponent being Francis Blackburne, who published his severe Remarks on the sermon in 1758.
The Lucasian professorship was vacant in 1760, and among the candidates were Edward Waring of Magdalene College and William Ludlam of St John's College. Waring distributed a portion of his Miscellanea Analytica, and to support Ludlam of his own college, Powell attacked it anonymously in Observations on the First Chapter of a Book called "Miscellanea Analytica", 1760. To a reply by Waring, Powell retorted in an anonymous Defence of the Observations, which Waring answered in a Letter.

Powell also wrote:

The Heads of a Course of Lectures on Experimental Philosophy (anon.), 1746 and 1753.
(Attributed) An anonymous pamphlet, An Observation on the Design of establishing Annual Examinations at Cambridge, 1774, answered by Ann Jebb in A Letter to the Author.
Discourses on Various Subjects, 1776; edited by Thomas Balguy, who supplied an outline of his life. They were said by Richard Watson to have been "written with great acuteness and knowledge." Thomas Smart Hughes reprinted them in 1832, with the discourses of James Fawcett and an account of Powell's career.

Family

Powell's fortune came to him through the death of a childless cousin.

Powell's mother's eldest brother was Samuel Reynolds the younger, who married Frances, daughter of Charles Pelham of Brocklesby, Lincolnshire, and sister of Charles Pelham MP, of the family of the Duke of Newcastle. Their son, Charles Reynolds of Peldon Hall, admitted to the Inner Temple in 1719, inherited the family estates in Essex. He married Charlotte, second daughter of Francis Anderson of Manby (1675–1747); Anderson having married Mary, eldest daughter of Charles Pelham of Brocklesby, this was a first-cousin marriage. (While the wording in both the Dictionary of National Biography and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography implies the Brocklesby estate passed to Powell, it went to Charles Anderson-Pelham, 1st Baron Yarborough, a grandson of Francis Anderson. The History of Parliament confirms he succeeded Charles Pelham MP.)

Those Essex estates, with other property in Little Bentley and Wix, in the same county, came to Powell when Charles Reynolds died in 1760, his two children having predeceased him. He left his property to Miss Jolland, granddaughter of Susan Reynolds his mother through a marriage to George Jolland that preceded her marriage to the Rev. Francis Powell.

Notes

University of Cambridge (1)
Horn, Joyce M. (1974), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 3, p. 59
^ Young, B. W. "Powell, William Samuel (1717–1775)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22664. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Powell, William Samuel" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
^ "William Samuel Powell (PWL734WS)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66654 A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3 (1959; Editor J. P. C. Roach)
Powell, William Samuel (1832). Discourses by William Samuel Powell ... and James Fawcett, with some account of their lives &c., by T.S. Hughes. London: A. J. Valpy.
"Samuel Reynolds (RNLS683S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
"Charles Reynolds (RNLS718C)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Maddison, Arthur Roland; Larken, Arthur Staunton (1902). Lincolnshire Pedigrees. Vol. I. London. p. 22.
"Anderson Pelham, Charles (1749–1823), of Brocklesby, Lincs., History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
Morant, Philip (1768). The history and antiquities of the County of Essex. Compiled from the best and most ancient historians; from Domesday-book, Inquisitiones post mortem, and other the most valuable records and mss. &c., the whole digested, improved, perfected, and brought down to the present time. Vol. I. London: Printed for T. Osborne p. 119.
Morant, Philip (1768). The history and antiquities of the County of Essex. Compiled from the best and most ancient historians; from Domesday-book, Inquisitiones post mortem, and other the most valuable records and mss. &c., the whole digested, improved, perfected, and brought down to the present time. Vol. I. London: Printed for T. Osborne p. 419.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Powell, William Samuel". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 46. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Academic offices
Preceded byJohn Newcome	Master of St John's College, Cambridge 1765–1775	Succeeded byJohn Chevallier
Preceded byJohn Barnardiston	Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University 1765–1766	Succeeded byJohn Smith
Church of England titles
Preceded byCharles Moss	Archdeacon of Colchester 1766–11775	Succeeded byAnthony Hamilton

v t e Archdeacons of Colchester
High Medieval	Quintilian Cyprian son of Quintilian Geoffrey Ailward Henry of London William Richard Foliot I Ralph de Alta Ripa Richard of Ely Roger Niger Hugh of London Robert de Insula Hugh de Sancto Edmundo Fulke Lovell Giles Filliol
Late Medieval	Richard Newport John de Chishull William de Meleford William de Stowe Richard de Plessis Michael Northburgh (son) Richard de Piriton John de Carleton Thomas More Richard de Kingston William Spigurnell Henry Wodechurche Peter Hynewyk William Duffield John Stopyngton Robert Aiscough Nicholas Close John Thurston Robert Stillington Benedict Burgh Thomas Barow
Early modern	John Maynwaring John Perott Richard Pace John Clerk Edward Lee Robert Aldrich Richard Curwen Anthony Belasyse John Standish Hugh Weston John Standish (again) John Pullain James Calfhill George Withers Thomas Withers Henry King Josias Shute John Hansley William Wells Charles Smith William Sill William Beveridge Jonas Warley John King Thomas Cartwright Charles Moss William Powell Anthony Hamilton Joseph Jefferson Charles James Blomfield William Lyall Herbert Oakeley Charles Burney
Late modern	William Ady Alfred Blomfield, Bishop of Colchester Henry Johnson, Bishop of Colchester Robert Whitcombe, Bishop of Colchester Thomas Chapman, Bishop of Colchester Charles Ridsdale, Bishop of Colchester Dudley Narborough, Bishop of Colchester Aubrey Cleall Roderic Coote, Bishop of Colchester Derek Bond James Roxburgh Ernest Stroud Martin Wallace Annette Cooper Ruth Patten

v t e Masters of St John's College, Cambridge
Robert Shorton Alan Percy Nicholas Metcalfe George Day John Taylor William Bill Thomas Watson George Bullock James Pilkington Leonard Pilkington Richard Longworth Nicholas Sheppard John Still Richard Howland William Whitaker Richard Clayton Owen Gwyn William Beale John Arrowsmith Anthony Tuckney Peter Gunning Francis Turner Humphrey Gower Robert Jenkin Robert Lambert John Newcome William Samuel Powell John Chevallier William Craven James Wood Ralph Tatham William Henry Bateson Charles Taylor Robert Forsyth Scott Ernest Alfred Benians James Mann Wordie John Boys Smith Nicholas Mansergh Harry Hinsley Robert Hinde Peter Goddard Richard Perham Chris Dobson Heather Hancock

Masters of St John's College, Cambridge

v t e Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
15th century	Thomas Ashwell Henry Stockton Nicholas de Swaffham Nicholas Gay William Millington John Roclyffe Thomas Stoyle William Uttyng William Smyth Edmund Conisborough Thomas Stoyle William Towne Thomas Tuppin John Riplingham John Camberton William Rawson William Stockdale John Dolman Henry Rudd John Smith John Smith Henry Babington
16th century	John Fisher Humphrey Fitzwilliam Geoffrey Knight John Smith Richard Burton John Eccleston William Robson William Buckenham Thomas Thompson John Fawne John Eccleston Robert Dowsing Edmund Natares John Watson Edmund Natares Thomas Stackhouse John Edmunds Thomas Green Henry Bullock Edmund Natares John Edmunds William Buckmaster John Watson Simon Haynes John Crayford Francis Mallet George Day William Buckmaster John Edmunds Francis Mallet Richard Standish John Edmunds Richard Standish John Edmunds Sir Thomas Smith John Madew Matthew Parker John Madew William Bill Matthew Parker Walter Haddon John Madew Andrew Perne Edward Hawford Edwin Sandys John Young William Glyn Cuthbert Scott Andrew Perne John Pory Robert Brassey Edmund Cosyn Andrew Perne Henry Harvey Philip Baker Francis Newton Edward Hawford Robert Beaumont John Stokes Robert Beaumont Roger Kelke Richard Longworth John Young John May John Whitgift Roger Kelke Thomas Byng John Whitgift Andrew Perne John Still Roger Goad Richard Howland Thomas Byng John Hatcher Andrew Perne William Fulke John Bell Richard Howland Robert Norgate Humphrey Tindall John Copcot Thomas Legge Thomas Nevile Thomas Preston Robert Some Thomas Legge John Still John Duport Roger Goad John Jegon Robert Some John Jegon
17th century	John Duport William Smith John Cowell Richard Clayton Samuel Harsnett Roger Goad Thomas Jegon John Duport Fogge Newton Barnabas Gooch (or Goche) Valentine Cary Clement Corbet Samuel Harsnett Owen Gwyn John Hills John Richardson William Branthwaite John Gostlin Robert Scott Samuel Ward Leonard Mawe Jerome Beale Thomas Paske John Mansell John Gostlin Henry Smyth Thomas Bainbridge Matthew Wren Henry Butts Thomas Comber Benjamin Lany Richard Love William Beale Henry Smyth Thomas Comber Ralph Brownrigg John Cosin Richard Holdsworth Ralph Brownrigg Thomas Hill John Arrowsmith Anthony Tuckney Thomas Horton Benjamin Whichcote Samuel Bolton Richard Minshull Lazarus Seaman John Lightfoot Theophilus Dillingham John Worthington John Bond William Dillingham Henry Ferne Henry Ferne Edward Rainbowe William Dillingham James Fleetwood Anthony Sparrow Francis Wilford John Howorth James Fleetwood Edmund Boldero James Duport John Breton Robert Mapletoft William Wells John Spencer Edmund Boldero Isaac Barrow Sir Thomas Page Thomas Holbech Francis Turner John Eachard Humphrey Gower Nathaniel Coga John Copleston Henry James Samuel Blyth William Saywell John Peachell John Balderston John Montagu John Covel James Johnson Charles Roderick Gabriel Quadring George Oxenden William Stanley Thomas Browne John Eachard Henry James Sir William Dawes Thomas Green Richard Bentley
18th century	Thomas Richardson Charles Ashton George Bramston Sir John Ellys Bardsey Fisher John Balderston Edward Lany John Covel Charles Roderick Nathaniel Lloyd Gabriel Quadring John Adams Thomas Green Thomas Sherlock Daniel Waterland William Grigg Sir Thomas Gooch Thomas Crosse Andrew Snape William Savage John Davies Joseph Craven Robert Lambert John Frankland Robert Lambert Matthias Mawson Charles Morgan Roger Long William Towers John Adams John Wilcox William Richardson John Whalley Edward Hubbard Sir Edward Simpson William Sedgwick Robert Smith William George Kenrick Prescot George Rooke Edmund Castle Francis Parris Thomas Chapman Edmund Keene John Wilcox Philip Yonge Hugh Thomas Edmund Law John Sumner John Green Lynford Caryl Sir James Burrough George Sandby Robert Plumptre Peter Godard William Elliston John Barnardiston William Samuel Powell John Smith Sir James Marriott John Hinchliffe William Richardson John Sumner James Brown William Cooke Lynford Caryl Hon. Barton Wallop Richard Farmer John Chevallier Hugh Thomas Robert Plumptre William Colman Lowther Yates John Barker Richard Beadon John Torkington Peter Peckard Joseph Turner Sir James Marriott William Elliston Richard Farmer Francis Barnes William Pearce William Craven Thomas Postlethwaite Isaac Milner William Colman Lowther Yates Philip Douglas Richard Fisher Belward Robert Cory Humphrey Sumner William Lort Mansel William Gretton
19th century	Joseph Proctor Humphrey Sumner Martin Davy John Torkington Joseph Turner William Pearce Francis Barnes Edward Pearson Isaac Milner Philip Douglas Thomas Browne John Davie Robert Cory William Chafy George Thackeray John Kaye James Wood William Webb George Neville William Frere Christopher Wordsworth William French Henry Godfrey John Lamb Thomas Le Blanc Joseph Proctor Christopher Wordsworth Martin Davy Gilbert Ainslie William Chafy George Thackeray John Graham William Webb Joshua King William French George Archdall Gilbert Ainslie Thomas Worsley William Hodgson Ralph Tatham John Graham George Archdall William Whewell William Hodgson Robert Phelps Ralph Tatham Henry Philpott Robert Phelps Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell George Corrie Richard Okes James Pulling Thomas Geldart Edwin Guest William Whewell Henry Philpott William Henry Bateson Latimer Neville George Phillips Edward Atkinson Henry Wilkinson Cookson James Cartmell William Hepworth Thompson Edward Atkinson John Power Henry Wilkinson Cookson Samuel Phear Edward Atkinson John Power Edward Perowne James Porter Norman Macleod Ferrers Charles Swainson Charles Taylor Charles Edward Searle Henry Montagu Butler John Peile Augustus Austen Leigh Charles Smith Alexander Hill William Chawner
20th century	Adolphus Ward Frederic Chase Edward Beck Ernest Stewart Roberts Arthur James Mason Robert Forsyth Scott Stuart Alexander Donaldson M. R. James Thomas Fitzpatrick Arthur Shipley Peter Giles Edmund Pearce Albert Seward George Weekes Thomas Fitzpatrick Allen Beville Ramsay Will Spens J. F. Cameron Godfrey Wilson Henry Roy Dean Ernest Alfred Benians John Archibald Venn Thomas Hele Henry Thirkill Charles E. Raven Sydney Castle Roberts Sir Lionel Whitby Henry Willink Brian Downs Edgar Adrian Herbert Butterfield Ivor Jennings John Boys Smith Arthur Armitage Eric Ashby Owen Chadwick William Alexander Deer Jack Linnett Rosemary Murray Alan Cottrell Peter Swinnerton-Dyer Harry Hinsley John Butterfield Richard Adrian, 2nd Baron Adrian Michael McCrum
Full-time	Sir David Williams Sir Alec Broers Dame Alison Richard Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Stephen Toope Deborah Prentice

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