Robert James Carr
Encyclopedia
Robert James Carr was an English churchman, bishop of Chichester
in 1824 and bishop of Worcester
in 1831.
, who was afterwards vicar of Ealing
, he was born at Twickenham. He received his primary education in his father's school before being sent to Merchant Taylors' School
, London. Afterwards he went up to Worcester College, Oxford
. In 1798 he was ordained by the Bishop of Salisbury
, and was shortly presented to the vicarage of Brighton
. In 1806 he graduated M.A.
While he was vicar of Brighton his eloquence commended him to the Prince Regent
, and a friendship began which only terminated with the death of George IV. In 1820 he was appointed dean of Hereford, and in the same year he took the degrees of B.D. and D.D. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, and, along with his bishopric, held a canonry in St Paul's Cathedral
. He was also appointed clerk to the closet, an honorary position which he held until the accession of Queen Victoria, when he was dismissed for political reasons.
Carr was the prelate who attended George IV during his last illness. In 1831 he was translated to the bishopric of Worcester, in fulfillment, as it was understood at the time, of a promise made by the late king. In the House of Lords, he was one of the bishops who voted against the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, and while not speaking against the measure, opposed it in other ways. His views were orthodox and strict, though leaning towards the evangelical.
He died in 1841, aged 67, at Hartlebury Palace, from paralysis, and was buried in the churchyard of the parish. His only published works were sermons preached for charitable objects.
, by whom he had a large family, of which only four children survived him. His daughter Maria (1801–1888) in 1842 married the Worcester solicitor and MP William Laslett
but they separated shortly after. Their marriage was fictionalised in the popular novel East Lynne
.
His younger brother Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry William Carr KCB (1777–1821) in 1815 married Jane, widow of the assassinated prime minister Spencer Perceval
, and became stepfather to her twelve surviving children.
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
in 1824 and bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
in 1831.
Life
The son of the Rev. Colston Carr, a schoolmaster at TwickenhamTwickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, who was afterwards vicar of Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, he was born at Twickenham. He received his primary education in his father's school before being sent to Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, London. Afterwards he went up to Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
. In 1798 he was ordained by the Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
, and was shortly presented to the vicarage of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. In 1806 he graduated M.A.
While he was vicar of Brighton his eloquence commended him to the Prince Regent
Prince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
, and a friendship began which only terminated with the death of George IV. In 1820 he was appointed dean of Hereford, and in the same year he took the degrees of B.D. and D.D. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, and, along with his bishopric, held a canonry in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. He was also appointed clerk to the closet, an honorary position which he held until the accession of Queen Victoria, when he was dismissed for political reasons.
Carr was the prelate who attended George IV during his last illness. In 1831 he was translated to the bishopric of Worcester, in fulfillment, as it was understood at the time, of a promise made by the late king. In the House of Lords, he was one of the bishops who voted against the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, and while not speaking against the measure, opposed it in other ways. His views were orthodox and strict, though leaning towards the evangelical.
He died in 1841, aged 67, at Hartlebury Palace, from paralysis, and was buried in the churchyard of the parish. His only published works were sermons preached for charitable objects.
Family
In 1797 he married Nancy, daughter of John Wilkinson of RoehamptonRoehampton
Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...
, by whom he had a large family, of which only four children survived him. His daughter Maria (1801–1888) in 1842 married the Worcester solicitor and MP William Laslett
William Laslett
William Laslett was a British Liberal Party politician.He was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament for Worcester at a by-election in April 1852, and was re-elected at the subsequent general election and in 1857 and 1859. He resigned from the House of Commons on 6 March 1860 through...
but they separated shortly after. Their marriage was fictionalised in the popular novel East Lynne
East Lynne
East Lynne is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood. East Lynne was a Victorian bestseller. It is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centering on infidelity and double identities...
.
His younger brother Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry William Carr KCB (1777–1821) in 1815 married Jane, widow of the assassinated prime minister Spencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval, KC was a British statesman and First Lord of the Treasury, making him de facto Prime Minister. He is the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated...
, and became stepfather to her twelve surviving children.