Robert Plumptre
Encyclopedia
Robert Plumptre was an English churchman and academic, President of Queens' College, Cambridge
from 1760.
, and was grandson of Henry Plumptre. He was educated by Dr. Henry Newcome at Hackney
, and matriculated as a pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge, on 11 July 1741. He proceeded B.A. 1744, M.A. 1748, D.D. 1761, and on 21 March 1745 was elected fellow of his college. In 1752 he was instituted to the rectory of Wimpole
, Cambridgeshire
, on the presentation of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
; at the same time he held the vicarage of Whaddon
. In 1756 Lord Hardwicke made him prebendary of Norwich Cathedral
. In 1760 he was elected president of his college, and in 1769 professor of casuistry
. These offices, together with his preferments, he held till his death. He was vice-chancellor 1760-61 and 1777-78.
Plumptre interested himself in the history of his college, and left some manuscript collections for it. In the university he supported the movement inaugurated by John Jebb
in favour of annual examinations, and was a member of the syndicate appointed on 17 February 1774 to devise a scheme for carrying them out, which was rejected on 19 April in the same year. He is also stated to have been in favour of granting relief to the clergy, who in 1772 petitioned against subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles
. He published in 1782 a pamphlet called Hints Respecting some of the University Officers, of which a second edition appeared in 1802. Latin poems by him occur among the congratulatory verses published by the university in 1761 on the occasion of the marriage of George III in 1762, on the birth of a Prince of Wales, and in 1763 on the restoration of peace. Plumptre died at Norwich
on 29 October 1788. There is a tablet to his memory on the south side of the presbytery.
and dramatist James Plumptre
.
Another daughter was Annabella (or Bell) who wrote the book Domestic Management; or, the Healthful Cookery-book: to which is prefixed, a treatise on diet (London: B. & R. Crosby, 1810), several novels, and translated A. W. Iffland's play Die Jäger from German (The Foresters. London: Vernor & Hood, 1799), and other German works.
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
from 1760.
Life
He was the youngest of ten children of John Plumptre of NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, and was grandson of Henry Plumptre. He was educated by Dr. Henry Newcome at Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, and matriculated as a pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge, on 11 July 1741. He proceeded B.A. 1744, M.A. 1748, D.D. 1761, and on 21 March 1745 was elected fellow of his college. In 1752 he was instituted to the rectory of Wimpole
Wimpole
Wimpole is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, about 8½ miles southwest of Cambridge. It is sometimes sub-divided into "Old Wimpole" and "New Wimpole". People from Wimpole include the Independent minister John Conder...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, on the presentation of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....
; at the same time he held the vicarage of Whaddon
Whaddon, Cambridgeshire
Whaddon is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, north of Royston.-History:The parish of Whaddon covers an area of . Its entire western boundary follows the Roman Ermine Street , separating it from Bassingbourn and Wendy, and its northern border follows the River Cam,...
. In 1756 Lord Hardwicke made him prebendary of Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
. In 1760 he was elected president of his college, and in 1769 professor of casuistry
Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy
The Knightbridge Professorship of Philosophy is the senior professorship in philosophy at the University of Cambridge.One of the oldest professorships in Cambridge, the chair was founded in 1683 by John Knightbridge, fellow of Peterhouse....
. These offices, together with his preferments, he held till his death. He was vice-chancellor 1760-61 and 1777-78.
Plumptre interested himself in the history of his college, and left some manuscript collections for it. In the university he supported the movement inaugurated by John Jebb
John Jebb
John Jebb may refer to:*John Jebb , English clergyman and doctor*John Jebb , bishop of Limerick*John Jebb , chancellor of Hereford Cathedral...
in favour of annual examinations, and was a member of the syndicate appointed on 17 February 1774 to devise a scheme for carrying them out, which was rejected on 19 April in the same year. He is also stated to have been in favour of granting relief to the clergy, who in 1772 petitioned against subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles
Thirty-Nine Articles
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines of the Anglican church with respect to the controversies of the English Reformation. First established in 1563, the articles served to define the doctrine of the nascent Church of England as it related to...
. He published in 1782 a pamphlet called Hints Respecting some of the University Officers, of which a second edition appeared in 1802. Latin poems by him occur among the congratulatory verses published by the university in 1761 on the occasion of the marriage of George III in 1762, on the birth of a Prince of Wales, and in 1763 on the restoration of peace. Plumptre died at Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
on 29 October 1788. There is a tablet to his memory on the south side of the presbytery.
Family
He married, in September 1756, Anne, second daughter of Dr. Henry Newcome, his former schoolmaster. By her he had ten children, including the author Anne PlumptreAnne Plumptre
Anne Plumptre was an English writer and translator.She was born in Norwich. She and her sister, Annabella [Bell] Plumptre , daughters of Robert Plumptre, became active in the Enfield circle, a local group of literati. Later she became involved in politics during the period of the French Revolution...
and dramatist James Plumptre
James Plumptre
-Life:James Plumptre was born at Cambridge on 2 October 1771, the third son of Robert Plumptre, President of Queens' College, Cambridge, by his wife, Anne Newcome. Anna Plumptre was his sister. James was educated at Dr. Henry Newcome's school at Hackney, where he took part in amateur theatricals....
.
Another daughter was Annabella (or Bell) who wrote the book Domestic Management; or, the Healthful Cookery-book: to which is prefixed, a treatise on diet (London: B. & R. Crosby, 1810), several novels, and translated A. W. Iffland's play Die Jäger from German (The Foresters. London: Vernor & Hood, 1799), and other German works.