Durham College (17th-century)
Encyclopedia
New College, Durham was a university institution set up by Oliver Cromwell
, to provide an alternative to (and break the effective monopoly of) the older University of Oxford
and University of Cambridge
. It also had the aim of bringing university education to Northern England. The idea met with opponents, including John Conant
.
Such a project had been discussed at least since the 1640s. In 1641 a petition had asked for a university in Manchester
or York
. Later a scheme was promoted by Samuel Hartlib
amongst others. The statutes drawn up in 1656 were worked over by Ralph Cudworth
, John Crew, 1st Baron Crew
, Sir William Ellis
and others appointed from March 1655.
had been dissolved in April 1649, leaving space in the cathedral close for the new institution. Cromwell signed letters patent setting it up formally in May 1657. Parliament allowed it to grant degrees in 1659.
The personnel included Philip Hunton
appointed in 1657 as Master or Provost, and Israel Tonge
as Fellow. The initial establishment was the Provost, two Senior Fellows, two Junior Fellows, and some other junior positions. Richard Gilpin
was appointed the Visitor. Joseph Hill
was an active supporter, and sought money to bring Hungarian students to Durham. Tonge looked to recruit both Hill and John Peachell
. The letters patent had mentioned besides Hunton and Hill as a Senior Fellow or Preacher: William Spinedge (Spinage) of Exeter College, Oxford
as Preacher; as Professors Thomas Vaughan
, John Kiffler (Anglicised name of Johannes Sibertus Kuffler
), Robert Wood
of Lincoln College, Oxford
, and Peachell; as Tutors Tonge, Richard Russell, John Richell and John Doughty; as Schoolmasters Nathaniel Vincent
of Corpus Christi College, Oxford
, William Corker of Trinity College, Cambridge
, William Sprigg
of Lincoln College, Oxford, and Leonard Wastell, Rector of Hurworth-on-Tees
. The College never scaled up to these intentions. William Pell
held an appointment as tutor there.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, to provide an alternative to (and break the effective monopoly of) the older University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. It also had the aim of bringing university education to Northern England. The idea met with opponents, including John Conant
John Conant
Rev. John Conant D.D. was an English clergyman, theologian, and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.-Life:John Conant was born at Yettington, Bicton, in southeast Devon, England, the eldest son of Robert Conant, son of Richard Conant and his wife, Elizabeth Morris...
.
Such a project had been discussed at least since the 1640s. In 1641 a petition had asked for a university in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
or York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Later a scheme was promoted by Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib was a German-British polymath. An active promoter and expert writer in many fields, he was interested in science, medicine, agriculture, politics, and education. He settled in England, where he married and died...
amongst others. The statutes drawn up in 1656 were worked over by Ralph Cudworth
Ralph Cudworth
Ralph Cudworth was an English philosopher, the leader of the Cambridge Platonists.-Life:Born at Aller, Somerset, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, gaining his MA and becoming a Fellow of Emmanuel in 1639. In 1645, he became master of Clare Hall and professor of Hebrew...
, John Crew, 1st Baron Crew
John Crew, 1st Baron Crew
John Crew, 1st Baron Crew of Stene was an English Puritan politician, who sided with the Parliamentary cause during the Civil War but was raised to a peerage by Charles II after the Restoration.-Career:...
, Sir William Ellis
William Ellis (solicitor-general)
Sir William Ellis was an English lawyer, judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1679.-Life:...
and others appointed from March 1655.
The institution
It had an effective life of 1656 (when Cromwell and his Privy Council issued an order for the founding of the College) to 1659, being dissolved officially in 1660. The Chapter of Durham CathedralDurham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
had been dissolved in April 1649, leaving space in the cathedral close for the new institution. Cromwell signed letters patent setting it up formally in May 1657. Parliament allowed it to grant degrees in 1659.
The personnel included Philip Hunton
Philip Hunton
Philip Hunton was an English clergyman and political writer, known for his May 1643 anti-absolutist work A Treatise of Monarchy. It became a banned book under the Restoration.-A Treatise of Monarchie :...
appointed in 1657 as Master or Provost, and Israel Tonge
Israel Tonge
Israel Tonge , aka Ezerel or Ezreel Tongue, was an English divine and an informer in the "Popish" plot. He was born at Tickhill, near Doncaster, the son of Henry Tongue, minister of Holtby, Yorkshire...
as Fellow. The initial establishment was the Provost, two Senior Fellows, two Junior Fellows, and some other junior positions. Richard Gilpin
Richard Gilpin
Richard Gilpin M.D. was an English nonconformist minister and physician, prominent in the northern region.-Life:The second son of Isaac Gilpin of Strickland Ketel, in the parish of Kendal, Westmorland, and Ann, daughter of Ralph Tonstall of Coatham-Mundeville, County Durham, he was born at...
was appointed the Visitor. Joseph Hill
Joseph Hill (lexicographer)
Joseph Hill was an English academic and nonconformist clergyman, mostly in the Netherlands after 1662. He is known as a lexicographer.-Life:...
was an active supporter, and sought money to bring Hungarian students to Durham. Tonge looked to recruit both Hill and John Peachell
John Peachell
John Peachell was an English academic, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge at the moment when James II was aiming to impose his will on the universities.-Life:...
. The letters patent had mentioned besides Hunton and Hill as a Senior Fellow or Preacher: William Spinedge (Spinage) of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
as Preacher; as Professors Thomas Vaughan
Thomas Vaughan (philosopher)
Thomas Vaughan was a Welsh philosopher.A Royalist clergyman from Brecon, Wales, Thomas was the twin brother of the poet Henry Vaughan, both being born at Newton, in the parish of St. Briget's, in 1621. Vaughan entered Jesus College, Oxford, in 1638, and remained there for a decade during the...
, John Kiffler (Anglicised name of Johannes Sibertus Kuffler
Johannes Sibertus Kuffler
Johannes Sibertus Kuffler was a German inventor and chemist, from Cologne. He started in a successful dyeing business in Leiden, with his brother Abraham, and then moved it to Bow, London. The new colour was called "Color Kufflerianus" or "Bow dye"...
), Robert Wood
Robert Wood (mathematician)
-Life:Born at Pepperharrow, near Godalming in Surrey, in 1621 or 1622, was the son of Robert Wood , rector of Pepperharrow. He was educated at Eton College, and matriculated from New Inn Hall on 3 July 1640. Obtaining one of the Eton postmasterships at Merton College in 1642, he graduated B. A....
of Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, and Peachell; as Tutors Tonge, Richard Russell, John Richell and John Doughty; as Schoolmasters Nathaniel Vincent
Nathaniel Vincent
Nathaniel Vincent was English a nonconformist minister, ejected in 1662 and several times imprisoned.-Life:He was probably born in Cornwall about 1639, son of John Vincent , who was nominated by the committee of the Westminster Assembly to the rectory of Sedgefield, Durham...
of Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, William Corker of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, William Sprigg
William Sprigg (pamphleteer)
William Sprigg was an English pamphleteer, known for his republican work A Modest Plea -Life:He was born in or near Banbury, Oxfordshire, a younger son of William Sprigg, steward of New College, Oxford, and brother of Joshua Sprigg. He matriculated at Oxford on 2 October 1652, and the same year...
of Lincoln College, Oxford, and Leonard Wastell, Rector of Hurworth-on-Tees
Hurworth-on-Tees
Hurworth-on-Tees is a village in the borough of Darlington, within the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated to the south of Darlington, next to the meeting point of the River Skerne and River Tees.-Amenities:...
. The College never scaled up to these intentions. William Pell
William Pell (minister)
William Pell was an English nonconformist minster, ejected in 1662, a tutor of Durham College subsequently imprisoned for illegal preaching.-Life:...
held an appointment as tutor there.
Further reading
- G. H. Turnbull, Oliver Cromwell's college at Durham. Research Review [Durham], 3 (1952), 1-7.