Robert Huntington
Encyclopedia
Robert Huntington was an English churchman, orientalist and manuscript collector. He was Provost
of Trinity College, Dublin
and Bishop of Raphoe
.
in Gloucestershire
, born in February 1636-7. His father was vicar of the adjoining parish of Leigh from 1648 till his death in 1664. Robert was educated at Bristol Grammar School
, and in 1652 was admitted portionist at Merton College, Oxford
, graduating B.A. on 9 March 1658, and M.A. on 21 Jan. 1662-3. As soon as the statutes of the college would allow, he was elected to a fellowship; he signed the decree of 1660, condemning all the proceedings of convocation under the Commonwealth, and his possession of its emoluments was undisturbed.
At Oxford he applied himself to the study of oriental languages, and on the return of Robert Frampton
he applied for his post of chaplain to the Levant Company
at Aleppo
, and was elected on 1 August 1670. In the following month he sailed, and arrived there in January 1671. Huntington remained in the Eastern Mediterranean for more than ten years, paying visits to Palestine, Cyprus, and Egypt, and acquiring rare manuscripts. His chief correspondents in England were Narcissus Marsh
, John Fell
, Edward Pocock, and Edward Bernard
, and he made many purchases for Marsh and Fell. With the Samaritans of Nablus
he began in 1671 a correspondence which was kept up between English and Samaritan scholars for many years. Henry Teonge
visited Aleppo in 1676 and recorded Huntington's life there in his diary.
On 14 July 1681 he resigned his chaplaincy, returning through Italy and France, and settling once more at Merton College. He took the degrees of B.D. and D.D. (15 June 1683). Humphry Prideaux, himself eager for the Hebrew professorship, mentions Huntington as a probable competitor. Through the recommendation of Fell to Marsh he was offered the provostship
of Trinity College, Dublin
(1683), and accepted it. An Irish translation of the New Testament had already been printed, but Marsh and Huntington superintended a translation into the same language of the canonical books of the Old Testament, which was printed at the expense of Robert Boyle
. In 1688 he fled from Ireland, but returned for a short time after the battle of the Boyne
.
The bishopric of Kilmore, which was vacant through the refusal of William Sheridan to take the oaths of allegiance
to the new ministry, was offered to him early in 1692, but declined, and as he preferred to live in England, he resigned his provostship (September 1692). In the same autumn (19 August 1692) Huntington was instituted, on the presentation of Sir Edward Turner, to the rectory of Great Hallingbury
in Essex
. He failed in October 1693 to obtain the wardenship of Merton College, and about the end of 1692 he married a daughter of John Powell, and a sister of Sir John Powell
. He was consecrated bishop of Raphoe
on 20 July 1701 at Dublin. Almost immediately afterwards he fell ill, and he died at Dublin on 2 September 1701, when he was buried near the door of Trinity College Chapel, and a marble monument was erected by the widow to his memory.
35 more. A much larger number, 646 in all, was purchased from him in 1693 for the Bodleian at a cost of £700. Thomas Marshall
, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford
, and Dean of Gloucester, gave to the Bodleian in 1685 many manuscripts, including some Coptic copies of the gospels procured for him by Huntington, and Archbishop Marsh on his death in 1713 left to the same library many oriental manuscripts which he had acquired from Huntington. These manuscripts are described in Bernard's Catalogue (1697), and in the official catalogues of the Bodleian (1788–1835 and 1848–90). Huntington was also a liberal contributor of manuscripts to Trinity College, Dublin.
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and Bishop of Raphoe
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
.
Life
He was second son of the Rev. Robert Huntington, curate of DeerhurstDeerhurst
Deerhurst is a village near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, England on the east bank of the River Severn. The Royal Mail postcode begins GL19.- Anglo Saxon church & chapel :...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, born in February 1636-7. His father was vicar of the adjoining parish of Leigh from 1648 till his death in 1664. Robert was educated at Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
, and in 1652 was admitted portionist at Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, graduating B.A. on 9 March 1658, and M.A. on 21 Jan. 1662-3. As soon as the statutes of the college would allow, he was elected to a fellowship; he signed the decree of 1660, condemning all the proceedings of convocation under the Commonwealth, and his possession of its emoluments was undisturbed.
At Oxford he applied himself to the study of oriental languages, and on the return of Robert Frampton
Robert Frampton
Robert Frampton was a bishop of the Church of England and later a nonjuror.-Life:He was born in Dorset, England in February 1622, to Robert and Elizabeth Frampton. He studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and Christ Church, Oxford, where he received the B.A. . He would later be honored with...
he applied for his post of chaplain to the Levant Company
Levant Company
The Levant Company, or Turkey Company, was an English chartered company formed in 1581, to regulate English trade with Turkey and the Levant...
at Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, and was elected on 1 August 1670. In the following month he sailed, and arrived there in January 1671. Huntington remained in the Eastern Mediterranean for more than ten years, paying visits to Palestine, Cyprus, and Egypt, and acquiring rare manuscripts. His chief correspondents in England were Narcissus Marsh
Narcissus Marsh
Narcissus Marsh was an English clergyman who was successively Church of Ireland Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, Archbishop of Cashel, Archbishop of Dublin and Archbishop of Armagh....
, 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:...
, Edward Pocock, and Edward Bernard
Edward Bernard
Edward Bernard was an English scholar and Savilian professor of astronomy at the University of Oxford, from 1673 to 1691.-Life:He was born at Paulerspury, Northamptonshire. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and St John's College, Oxford, where he was a scholar in 1655; he became a Fellow...
, and he made many purchases for Marsh and Fell. With the Samaritans of Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
he began in 1671 a correspondence which was kept up between English and Samaritan scholars for many years. Henry Teonge
Henry Teonge
Henry Teonge was an English cleric and Royal Navy chaplain who kept informative diaries of voyages he made in 1675–76 and 1678–79.-Life:...
visited Aleppo in 1676 and recorded Huntington's life there in his diary.
On 14 July 1681 he resigned his chaplaincy, returning through Italy and France, and settling once more at Merton College. He took the degrees of B.D. and D.D. (15 June 1683). Humphry Prideaux, himself eager for the Hebrew professorship, mentions Huntington as a probable competitor. Through the recommendation of Fell to Marsh he was offered the provostship
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
(1683), and accepted it. An Irish translation of the New Testament had already been printed, but Marsh and Huntington superintended a translation into the same language of the canonical books of the Old Testament, which was printed at the expense of Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
. In 1688 he fled from Ireland, but returned for a short time after the battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
.
The bishopric of Kilmore, which was vacant through the refusal of William Sheridan to take the oaths of allegiance
Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Act 1688
The Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Act 1688 was an Act of the Parliament of England passed in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution. The Act required all office-holders, Members of Parliament and clergy to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy for the new monarchs, William III and Mary II...
to the new ministry, was offered to him early in 1692, but declined, and as he preferred to live in England, he resigned his provostship (September 1692). In the same autumn (19 August 1692) Huntington was instituted, on the presentation of Sir Edward Turner, to the rectory of Great Hallingbury
Great Hallingbury
Great Hallingbury is a village and a civil parish near the M11 motorway, in the Uttlesford District, in the English county of Essex. It is near the town of Bishop's Stortford- Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 :...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He failed in October 1693 to obtain the wardenship of Merton College, and about the end of 1692 he married a daughter of John Powell, and a sister of Sir John Powell
John Powell (judge)
Sir John Powell was a Welsh judge, who was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and of the Court of King's Bench. He presided over the trial of the Seven Bishops in 1688.-Life:...
. He was consecrated bishop of Raphoe
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
on 20 July 1701 at Dublin. Almost immediately afterwards he fell ill, and he died at Dublin on 2 September 1701, when he was buried near the door of Trinity College Chapel, and a marble monument was erected by the widow to his memory.
Works and legacy
Huntington's sole publication was a short paper in Philosophical Transactions No. 161 (20 July 1684). Edward Bernard inscribed to him his paper on the chief fixed stars. Huntington gave to Merton College 14 oriental manuscripts, and to the Bodleian LibraryBodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
35 more. A much larger number, 646 in all, was purchased from him in 1693 for the Bodleian at a cost of £700. Thomas Marshall
Thomas Marshall (dean)
Thomas Marshall was an English churchman and linguist, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford and Dean of Gloucester.-Life:The son of Thomas Marshall, he was born at Barkby in Leicestershire, and baptised there on 9 January 1621...
, Rector 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 Dean of Gloucester, gave to the Bodleian in 1685 many manuscripts, including some Coptic copies of the gospels procured for him by Huntington, and Archbishop Marsh on his death in 1713 left to the same library many oriental manuscripts which he had acquired from Huntington. These manuscripts are described in Bernard's Catalogue (1697), and in the official catalogues of the Bodleian (1788–1835 and 1848–90). Huntington was also a liberal contributor of manuscripts to Trinity College, Dublin.