Edward Edwards (cleric)
Encyclopedia
Edward Edwards was a Welsh
scholar and clergyman. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
for over thirty-five years, and was Vice-Principal for more than twenty years. His particular scholastic interest was in the works of the Greek philosopher Xenophon
.
, Merionethshire
in North Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford
, where he matriculated
in May 1743 – he was said to be 17 years old at that time. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree in January 1747 and was elected to a fellowship of the college in the same year. He retained his fellowship until 1783, and also served as Vice-Principal of the college from 1762 until 1783 (beginning when Thomas Pardo
was Principal, continuing in post throughout the principalship of Humphrey Owen
and into the time of Joseph Hoare
). He was also awarded the higher degrees of Bachelor of Divinity
(1756) and Doctor of Divinity
(1760).
He was ordained deacon on 23 July 1749 at Cuddesdon
by the Bishop of Oxford
, Thomas Secker
. He was ordained priest by Secker on 10 June 1750 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
. He was rector
of the parish of Besselsleigh
, Oxfordshire
from at least 1770. In 1783, Edwards resigned his fellowship, having been appointed by the college as rector of Aston Clinton
, Buckinghamshire
on 31 July 1782. His time at Aston Clinton was limited, since one source gives his date of death as 2 September 1783, and a letter written by Samuel Johnson
confirms that Edwards was dead by 1784.
Edwards and Samuel Johnson were friends and exchanged letters – Johnson described Edwards as "my convivial friend" and stayed with Edwards at Jesus College on a visit to Oxford in 1782. Edwards had an interest in matters connected with Wales, but his primary concern was Greek literature. He prepared an edition of Xenophon
's Memorabilia
, and published an essay on Socratic
ethics in 1773 in the light of Xenophon's writings. His edition was printed with the Greek text and a Latin version before his death; the publication was completed by his friend Henry Owen
in 1785.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
scholar and clergyman. He was a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
for over thirty-five years, and was Vice-Principal for more than twenty years. His particular scholastic interest was in the works of the Greek philosopher Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
.
Life
Edwards was the son of Lewis Edwards and was born in Talgarth, TowynTowyn
Towyn , is a seaside resort in the County Borough of Conwy, Wales.It is located between Rhyl, in Denbighshire, and Abergele in Conwy. According to the 2001 Census, together with neighbouring Kinmel Bay , it had a population 7,864, of which 10.7% could speak Welsh...
, Merionethshire
Merionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
in North Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, where he matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
in May 1743 – he was said to be 17 years old at that time. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in January 1747 and was elected to a fellowship of the college in the same year. He retained his fellowship until 1783, and also served as Vice-Principal of the college from 1762 until 1783 (beginning when Thomas Pardo
Thomas Pardo
Thomas Pardo was Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1727 to 1763.Pardo, from Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales was a scholar at Jesus College from December 1707 and was elected a Fellow of the college in 1711. He was the most senior fellow when elected Principal in 1727. He held the position...
was Principal, continuing in post throughout the principalship of Humphrey Owen
Humphrey Owen
Humphrey Owen was Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1763 to his death.Owen studied at Jesus College from 1718 to 1722 and was elected as a Fellow in 1725. He was Rector of Tredington 1744–63. In 1747 he was appointed Bodley's Librarian, and continued to hold this post when appointed...
and into the time of Joseph Hoare
Joseph Hoare
Joseph Hoare was a Welsh clergyman and Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1768 to 1802.The son of Joseph Hoare, from Cardiff, Wales, Hoare studied at Jesus College from 1727 , obtaining his BA in 1730 and his MA in 1733. He was a Prebendary of Westminster Abbey. He was appointed Principal in...
). He was also awarded the higher degrees of Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
(1756) and Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(1760).
He was ordained deacon on 23 July 1749 at Cuddesdon
Cuddesdon
Cuddesdon is an east Oxfordshire village about east of Oxford. It is notable as the location of Ripon College Cuddesdon....
by the Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
, Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker , Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire.-Early life and studies:In 1699, Secker went to Richard Brown's free school in Chesterfield, staying with his half-sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Richard Milnes...
. He was ordained priest by Secker on 10 June 1750 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
. He was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the parish of Besselsleigh
Besselsleigh
Besselsleigh or Bessels Leigh is a village and civil parish about south-west of Oxford. Besselsleigh was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred to Oxfordshire.The village is just off the A420 road between Oxford and Swindon....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
from at least 1770. In 1783, Edwards resigned his fellowship, having been appointed by the college as rector of Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton is a village and civil parish close to the main A41 road in Buckinghamshire, England between Tring and Aylesbury. The parish covers and is about east of Aylesbury. The village is at the foot of the chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at the junction of the pre-historic track the...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
on 31 July 1782. His time at Aston Clinton was limited, since one source gives his date of death as 2 September 1783, and a letter written by Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
confirms that Edwards was dead by 1784.
Edwards and Samuel Johnson were friends and exchanged letters – Johnson described Edwards as "my convivial friend" and stayed with Edwards at Jesus College on a visit to Oxford in 1782. Edwards had an interest in matters connected with Wales, but his primary concern was Greek literature. He prepared an edition of Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
's Memorabilia
Memorabilia (Xenophon)
Memorabilia is a collection of Socratic dialogues by Xenophon, a student of Socrates...
, and published an essay on Socratic
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
ethics in 1773 in the light of Xenophon's writings. His edition was printed with the Greek text and a Latin version before his death; the publication was completed by his friend Henry Owen
Henry Owen
The Reverend Dr. Henry Owen was a Welsh theologian and Biblical scholar. Perhaps his most significant contribution to biblical scholarship is his discussion of the date of publication and the form and manner of the composition of the four canonical gospel accounts...
in 1785.