Ralph Button
Encyclopedia
Ralph Button was an English academic and clergyman, Gresham Professor of Geometry
, canon of Christ Church, Oxford
under the Commonwealth, and later a nonconformist schoolmaster.
, Wiltshire
, and was educated at Exeter College
, Oxford. He proceeded B.A. in 1630; in 1633 the Rector of Exeter, John Prideaux
, recommended him to Sir Nathaniel Brent, the Warden of Merton College, for a fellowship in his college. The fellowship was conferred on him, and he became known in the university as a successful tutor. Among his pupils were Zachary Bogan
, Anthony à Wood, and John Murcot.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
in 1642, Button, who sympathised with the parliamentarians, moved to London, and on 15 November 1643 was elected Professor of Geometry at Gresham College
, in the place of John Greaves
. In 1647 he was nominated a delegate to aid the parliamentary visitors at Oxford in their work of reform, and apparently resumed his tutorship at Merton. On 18 February. 1648 Button was appointed by the visitors junior proctor; on 11 April he pronounced a Latin oration before Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
, the new chancellor of the university, and on 13 June he resigned his Gresham professorship. On 4 August he was made canon of Christ Church and public orator of the university, in the place of Henry Hammond
, who had been removed by the parliamentary commission. At the same time Button declined to supplicate for the degree of D.D. on the ground of the expense; Wood says that he had then lately married.
Button showed independence in successfully resisting the endeavour of the visitors to expel Edward Pocock from the Hebrew and Arabic lectureship on the ground of political disaffection. At the Restoration
Button was ejected from all his offices and his place at Christ Church was taken by John Fell
. Leaving Oxford, he went to Brentford
, where he kept a school; he taught alongside Thomas Pakeman who was his neighbour. Richard Baxter
says that he was soon afterwards imprisoned for six months for teaching and not having taken the Oxford oath. At the date of the Declaration of Indulgence
(1672) Button moved to Islington
, and Joseph Jekyll
lived with him as his pupil. He died at Islington in October 1680, and was buried in the parish church. A son died and was buried at the same time. Baxter in Reliquiae Baxterianae speaks highly of him. He left a daughter, who married Dr. Boteler of London.
Gresham Professor of Geometry
The Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, London, gives free educational lectures to the general public. The college was founded for this purpose in 1596 / 7, when it appointed seven professors; this has since increased to eight and in addition the college now has visiting professors.The...
, canon of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
under the Commonwealth, and later a nonconformist schoolmaster.
Life
He was the son of Robert Button of BishopstownBishopstown
Bishopstown is a southwestern suburb of Cork, Ireland with a population of 24,136 people. Baile an Easpaig, anglicised Bishopstown, consists of two townlands which are Ballineaspigmore and Ballineaspigbeg...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and was educated at Exeter College
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...
, Oxford. He proceeded B.A. in 1630; in 1633 the Rector of Exeter, John Prideaux
John Prideaux
John Prideaux D.D. was an English academic and Bishop of Worcester.-Early life:The fourth son of John and Agnes Prideaux, he was born at Stowford House in the parish of Harford, near Ivybridge, Devon, England, on 17 September 1578...
, recommended him to Sir Nathaniel Brent, the Warden of Merton College, for a fellowship in his college. The fellowship was conferred on him, and he became known in the university as a successful tutor. Among his pupils were Zachary Bogan
Zachary Bogan
Zachary Bogan was an English scholar with Biblical interests. He published with the antiquarian Francis Rous the younger, and the alchemist Edmund Dickinson. He argued for parallels between Biblical and ancient Greek literature...
, Anthony à Wood, and John Murcot.
On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
in 1642, Button, who sympathised with the parliamentarians, moved to London, and on 15 November 1643 was elected Professor of Geometry at Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, in the place of John Greaves
John Greaves
John Greaves was an English mathematician, astronomer and antiquary.-Life:He was born in Colemore, near Alresford, Hampshire. He was the eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colemore, and Sarah Greaves...
. In 1647 he was nominated a delegate to aid the parliamentary visitors at Oxford in their work of reform, and apparently resumed his tutorship at Merton. On 18 February. 1648 Button was appointed by the visitors junior proctor; on 11 April he pronounced a Latin oration before Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I...
, the new chancellor of the university, and on 13 June he resigned his Gresham professorship. On 4 August he was made canon of Christ Church and public orator of the university, in the place of Henry Hammond
Henry Hammond
Henry Hammond was an English churchman.-Early life:He was born at Chertsey in Surrey on 18 August 1605, the youngest son of John Hammond, physician. He was educated at Eton College, and from age 13 at Magdalen College, Oxford, becoming demy or scholar in 1619. On 11 December 1622 he graduated B.A....
, who had been removed by the parliamentary commission. At the same time Button declined to supplicate for the degree of D.D. on the ground of the expense; Wood says that he had then lately married.
Button showed independence in successfully resisting the endeavour of the visitors to expel Edward Pocock from the Hebrew and Arabic lectureship on the ground of political disaffection. At the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
Button was ejected from all his offices and his place at Christ Church was taken by John Fell
John Fell (clergyman)
John Fell was an English churchman and influential academic. He served as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and later concomitantly as Bishop of Oxford.-Education:...
. Leaving Oxford, he went to Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
, where he kept a school; he taught alongside Thomas Pakeman who was his neighbour. Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
says that he was soon afterwards imprisoned for six months for teaching and not having taken the Oxford oath. At the date of the Declaration of Indulgence
Declaration of Indulgence
The Declaration of Indulgence was two proclamations made by James II of England and VII of Scotland in 1687. The Indulgence was first issued for Scotland on 12 February, and then for England on 4 April 1687...
(1672) Button moved to Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, and Joseph Jekyll
Joseph Jekyll
Sir Joseph Jekyll KS was a British barrister, politician and judge. Born to John Jekyll, he initially attended a seminary before joining the Middle Temple in 1680. Thanks to his association with Lord Somers Jekyll advanced rapidly, becoming Chief Justice of Chester in 1697 and a King's Serjeant in...
lived with him as his pupil. He died at Islington in October 1680, and was buried in the parish church. A son died and was buried at the same time. Baxter in Reliquiae Baxterianae speaks highly of him. He left a daughter, who married Dr. Boteler of London.