John Griffiths (academic)
Encyclopedia
John Griffiths was an academic at the University of Oxford
, where he was Warden of Wadham College
and Keeper of the Archives
.
, before joining the University of Oxford
as a scholar of Wadham College
in 1824. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1827, and was made an Fellow of Wadham in 1830, lecturing in classics and then in divinity. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
in 1838, and became preacher at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall in 1854. He was one of the "Four Tutors" who protested in March 1841 against the Anglo-Catholic John Henry Newman's Tract 90
, despite his dislike of controversy. He later explained that he disliked the anonymous basis on which the tract had been published, with an implicit link to the university, as well as its content. His fellowship at Wadham lasted until 1854 under the statutes prevailing at the time, and he then resigned and moved to Hampton Wick
. Appointed as Keeper of the Archives
in 1857 (a position he held until his death), he returned to Oxford. In 1871, reluctantly, he became Warden of Wadham, resigning in 1881. He also served on various committees and held other administrative positions within the university.
His publications include editions of classical texts, and some works connected with Oxford: An Index to Wills Proved in the Court of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1862), and an edition of the Laudian
university statutes (1888). He collected medals and prints, and sold one Rembrandt etching for £1,510 in May 1883 (equivalent to about £ in present day terms) – at that time, the highest price paid for one print. He was known as a courteous and hospitable man, formal in his dress and behaviour, and rather reserved (which seemed not to help relations with Wadham's undergraduates). He died in his home in Oxford on 14 August 1885.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he was Warden of Wadham College
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
and Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
.
Life
John Griffiths, the son of a clergyman and schoolteacher also called John Griffiths, was born on 27 July 1806 in Rochester, Kent. He was educated at the King's School, Rochester (his father's school) and at Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, before joining the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as a scholar of Wadham College
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
in 1824. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1827, and was made an Fellow of Wadham in 1830, lecturing in classics and then in divinity. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in 1838, and became preacher at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall in 1854. He was one of the "Four Tutors" who protested in March 1841 against the Anglo-Catholic John Henry Newman's Tract 90
Tract 90
Remarks on Certain Passages in the Thirty-Nine Articles, better known as Tract 90, was a theological pamphlet written by the English theologian and churchman John Henry Newman and published in 1841...
, despite his dislike of controversy. He later explained that he disliked the anonymous basis on which the tract had been published, with an implicit link to the university, as well as its content. His fellowship at Wadham lasted until 1854 under the statutes prevailing at the time, and he then resigned and moved to Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick is a Thames-side area, formerly a village, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.Famous for its market gardens until well into the twentieth century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas...
. Appointed as Keeper of the Archives
Keeper of the Archives
The position of Keeper of the Archives at the University of Oxford in England dates from 1634, when it was established by new statutes for the university brought in by William Laud...
in 1857 (a position he held until his death), he returned to Oxford. In 1871, reluctantly, he became Warden of Wadham, resigning in 1881. He also served on various committees and held other administrative positions within the university.
His publications include editions of classical texts, and some works connected with Oxford: An Index to Wills Proved in the Court of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1862), and an edition of the Laudian
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...
university statutes (1888). He collected medals and prints, and sold one Rembrandt etching for £1,510 in May 1883 (equivalent to about £ in present day terms) – at that time, the highest price paid for one print. He was known as a courteous and hospitable man, formal in his dress and behaviour, and rather reserved (which seemed not to help relations with Wadham's undergraduates). He died in his home in Oxford on 14 August 1885.