Francis Ayscough
Encyclopedia
Francis Ayscough was a tutor to George III and Clerk of the Closet
to his father Frederick, Prince of Wales
and later Dean of Bristol Cathedral
.
. He applied to be a fellow at Oxford University after serving two years at Corpus Christi
. Although initially rejected he was admitted after the intercession of the Bishop of Winchester
, Richard Willis
, who threatened to sack all of those involved if Ayscough was not appointed in 15 minutes..
_and_edward_augustus,_duke_of_york_and_albany_by_richard_wilson.jpg)
He was appointed as the first tutor to George who was to be the future George III of England. Reportedly Ayscough was appointed by the intercession of Sir George Lyttlelton
, who had some influence with George's father. Ayscough had married Anne Lyttleton who was George's sister.
In 1735 it was Ayscough as Chaplain to the Prince of Wales who was called on to give a sermon to the House of Commons to commemorate the "martyrdom of Charles I".
The boy's father retained Francis' services, but in 1749 he made a further appointment of an assistant to Ayscough. The new assistant, Lewis Scott, was a mathematician and a member of the Royal Society
and it was through him that George III became the first British monarch to have a scientific education.
In 1755 he had a sermon published on the wrongs of "self murder".
On the death of Frederick, Ayscough and North were both replaced by the Whig politicians. Ayscough was replaced by the Bishop of Norwich
, Thomas Hayter
.
In 1756, Ayscough became the Canon (of 12th prebend) for Winchester Cathedral
, 1756–1763,
Ayscough was also appointed to be the Dean of Bristol in 1761, a post that he also held until his death in 1763. Anne, his wife, outlived him and died in their house in London in 1776 aged 64. Ayscough's children included Anne Augusta who became Lady Cockburn and George Edward Ayscough who was a Guards officer and sometime dramatist.
Clerk of the Closet
The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see...
to his father Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
and later Dean of Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
.
Biography
Francis was born in 1700 and had his early education in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. He applied to be a fellow at Oxford University after serving two years at Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
. Although initially rejected he was admitted after the intercession of the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, Richard Willis
Richard Willis (bishop)
-Life:He was born in Ribbesford, Worcestershire, where his father was a tanner. He was educated at Bewdley grammar school and Wadham College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1684 and graduated B.A. in 1688. He became a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford....
, who threatened to sack all of those involved if Ayscough was not appointed in 15 minutes..
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton
George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton PC , known as Sir George Lyttelton, Bt between 1751 and 1756, was a British politician and statesman and a patron of the arts.-Background and education:...
, who had some influence with George's father. Ayscough had married Anne Lyttleton who was George's sister.
In 1735 it was Ayscough as Chaplain to the Prince of Wales who was called on to give a sermon to the House of Commons to commemorate the "martyrdom of Charles I".
The boy's father retained Francis' services, but in 1749 he made a further appointment of an assistant to Ayscough. The new assistant, Lewis Scott, was a mathematician and a member of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and it was through him that George III became the first British monarch to have a scientific education.
In 1755 he had a sermon published on the wrongs of "self murder".
On the death of Frederick, Ayscough and North were both replaced by the Whig politicians. Ayscough was replaced by the Bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
, Thomas Hayter
Thomas Hayter
Thomas Hayter was an English divine, who served as a Church of England bishop for 13 years.He was born in Chagdord, Devon , officially the son of George Hayter. It has often been claimed that Lancelot Blackburne was his father, but there is no conclusive evidence either way...
.
In 1756, Ayscough became the Canon (of 12th prebend) for Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
, 1756–1763,
Ayscough was also appointed to be the Dean of Bristol in 1761, a post that he also held until his death in 1763. Anne, his wife, outlived him and died in their house in London in 1776 aged 64. Ayscough's children included Anne Augusta who became Lady Cockburn and George Edward Ayscough who was a Guards officer and sometime dramatist.