Ralph Kettell
Encyclopedia
Ralph Kettell was an English college head, the third President of Trinity College, Oxford
. In a long tenure he built up the college both in terms of architecture and its academic reputation.
. He was nominated to a scholarship at Trinity in 1578 by Lady Elizabeth Paulet of Tittenhanger, the widow of Sir Thomas Pope, founder of the college. One of his contemporaries and friends at Trinity was Edward Hoby
. Kettell was elected Fellow in 1583. He graduated B.A. 1682, M.A. 1586, B.D. 1594, and D.D. 1597, and, after filling various college offices, was elected president in 1599, on the death of Arthur Yeldard
. Among those who as students were under his care while he was either tutor or president were the bishops Gilbert Sheldon
, Henry Glenham, William Lucy
, Gilbert Ironside
, and Robert Skinner
; also Sir John Denham, James Harrington
, Edmund Ludlow
, Henry Ireton
, George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
and Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
, William, Earl of Craven, and Sir Henry Blount. He rebuilt the college hall, and added attics or 'cocklofts ' to the old Durham College quadrangle, of which the east side still remains. About 1620 he built for the stone house in Broad Street
which is still known as Kettell Hall, an investment of his own which later came to the college.
Kettell was one of the older heads of houses who disliked William Laud
's high-handed reforms. He saved the old paintings in the college chapel from the puritan commissioner, William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele
. Outside Oxford Kettell held the rectory of Garsington
, which was attached to his office of president, and was private chaplain to Sir Francis Walsingham's widow and to Thomas Bilson
, Bishop of Winchester
. John Aubrey
, who was admitted to Trinity in 1642, and knew Kettell in his old age, narrates many anecdotes.
Kettell died about 17 July 1643, and was buried at Garsington on 5 August. Aubrey states that 'he had two wives, if not three, but no child,' and that his second wife was the widow of Edward Villiers of Hothorpe, Northamptonshire, whose daughter Elizabeth married George Bathurst, and was the mother of Ralph Bathurst
, president of Trinity College; but there are probably some inaccuracies here. His wife was buried at Garsington in 1624, and an infant daughter in 1606.
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. In a long tenure he built up the college both in terms of architecture and its academic reputation.
Life
He was the third son of John Kettell, gentleman, of King's Langley, HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. He was nominated to a scholarship at Trinity in 1578 by Lady Elizabeth Paulet of Tittenhanger, the widow of Sir Thomas Pope, founder of the college. One of his contemporaries and friends at Trinity was Edward Hoby
Edward Hoby
Sir Edward Hoby was a diplomat, Member of Parliament, scholar, and soldier in England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I...
. Kettell was elected Fellow in 1583. He graduated B.A. 1682, M.A. 1586, B.D. 1594, and D.D. 1597, and, after filling various college offices, was elected president in 1599, on the death of Arthur Yeldard
Arthur Yeldard
Arthur Yeldard was an English clergyman and academic, chosen as the first Fellow and second President of Trinity College, Oxford.-Life:...
. Among those who as students were under his care while he was either tutor or president were the bishops Gilbert Sheldon
Gilbert Sheldon
Gilbert Sheldon was an English Archbishop of Canterbury.-Early life:He was born in Stanton, Staffordshire in the parish of Ellastone, on 19 July 1598, the youngest son of Roger Sheldon; his father worked for Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford; he...
, Henry Glenham, William Lucy
William Lucy
William Lucy was an English clergyman. He was bishop of St David's after the English Restoration of 1660.-Opponent of Hobbes:He published in 1657 an attack on the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, and in particular on Leviathan , using the pseudonym William Pyke, Christophilus, and circulated by...
, Gilbert Ironside
Gilbert Ironside the elder
Gilbert Ironside was bishop of Bristol. He is referred to as the elder to distinguish himfrom his son, Gilbert Ironside the younger.-Life:...
, and Robert Skinner
Robert Skinner
-Life:He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford in 1613, and graduated M.A. in 1614.His father Edmund Skinner was rector of Pitsford, and Robert succeeded him in 1628. He was vicar of Launton from 1632....
; also Sir John Denham, James Harrington
James Harrington
James Harrington was an English political theorist of classical republicanism, best known for his controversial work, The Commonwealth of Oceana .-Early life:...
, Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
, Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
, George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland was an English politician and colonizer. He achieved domestic political success as a Member of Parliament and later Secretary of State under King James I...
and Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, 1st Proprietor and 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 9th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland , was an English peer who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland. He received the proprietorship after the death of his father, George Calvert, the...
, William, Earl of Craven, and Sir Henry Blount. He rebuilt the college hall, and added attics or 'cocklofts ' to the old Durham College quadrangle, of which the east side still remains. About 1620 he built for the stone house in Broad Street
Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street is a wide street in central Oxford, England, located just north of the old city wall.The street is known for its bookshops, including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50, located here due to the University...
which is still known as Kettell Hall, an investment of his own which later came to the college.
Kettell was one of the older heads of houses who disliked William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
's high-handed reforms. He saved the old paintings in the college chapel from the puritan commissioner, William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele
William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele
William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele was born at the family home of Broughton Castle near Banbury, in Oxfordshire. He was the only son of Richard Fiennes, seventh Baron Saye and Sele...
. Outside Oxford Kettell held the rectory of Garsington
Garsington
Garsington is a village and civil parish about southeast of Oxford in Oxfordshire.-Notable Garsington buildings:The earliest part of the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary is the Norman tower, built towards the end of the 12th century. The Gothic Revival architect Joseph Clarke restored...
, which was attached to his office of president, and was private chaplain to Sir Francis Walsingham's widow and to Thomas Bilson
Thomas Bilson
Thomas Bilson was an Anglican Bishop of Worcester and Bishop of Winchester. He, along with Miles Smith, oversaw the final edit and printing of the King James Bible. He is buried in Westminster Abbey in plot 232 between the tombs of Richard the Second and Edward the Third...
, 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...
. John Aubrey
John Aubrey
John Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
, who was admitted to Trinity in 1642, and knew Kettell in his old age, narrates many anecdotes.
Kettell died about 17 July 1643, and was buried at Garsington on 5 August. Aubrey states that 'he had two wives, if not three, but no child,' and that his second wife was the widow of Edward Villiers of Hothorpe, Northamptonshire, whose daughter Elizabeth married George Bathurst, and was the mother of Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst was an English theologian and physician.-Early life:He was born in Hothorpe, Northamptonshire in 1620 and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry.He graduated with a B.A...
, president of Trinity College; but there are probably some inaccuracies here. His wife was buried at Garsington in 1624, and an infant daughter in 1606.