Peter Whalley (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Peter Whalley was an English clergyman, academic and schoolmaster, known as an antiquarian author and literary editor.
He was the son of Peter Whalley of Rugby
, born on 2 September 1722 at Ecton
. He was at Merchant Taylors' School
from 1731 to 1740, and in June 1740 was elected to a scholarship at St John's College, Oxford
. He graduated B.A. in 1744, and proceeded B.C.L. in 1768. In 1743 he was elected to a fellowship at St John's College, and held it for some years.
For a time he kept a school in Northamptonshire
and probably at Courteenhall
. He also held the vicarage of The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton
. In 1760 Whalley succeeded James Townley
in the post of upper grammar master at Christ's Hospital
, and retained it until the summer of 1776. Subsequently, it is said, he was master of St. Olave's school, Southwark
. He was appointed on 5 February 1766 by the corporation of the city of London to the rectory of the united parishes of St Margaret Pattens
and St Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London; and in 1768 he was presented by Christ's Hospital to the vicarage of Horley
in Surrey
. Both these preferments he retained until his death.
Whalley married, on 16 January 1768, Betsey Jacobs of List Lane. He was in later life involved in money troubles. He lived for some months concealed in the house of his friend Francis Godolphin Waldron, but his hiding-place was discovered and he left for Flanders
. After a few months' residence there he died at Ostend
on 12 June 1791. His widow survived until 16 March 1803. His library was sold in 1792. A portrait, drawn by Harding and engraved by Ridley, was in Harding's ‘Shakespeare Illustrated.’
declined in 1755 the work of preparing for publication the manuscripts of John Bridges
' county history
of Northamptonshire
, the task was given to Whalley. The first volume of Bridges's History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire was brought out by Whalley in 1762, and the first part of the second volume appeared in 1769. A protracted delay then ensued, for financial reasons; the finished work came out in 1791 in two folio volumes.
Whalley edited in 1756 the Works of Ben Jonson
in seven volumes, and the edition was reissued, as far as regards the dramatic works, in conjunction with those of Beaumont and Fletcher
, in 1811. Waldron, in his edition of ‘The Sad Shepherd’ (1783), reproduced and expanded Whalley's annotations. Whalley went on with preparations for a second edition of Jonson's works, which Waldron commenced publishing in 1792 in numbers. The issue stopped with the second number.
Whalley's original works were:
He was the son of Peter Whalley of Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
, born on 2 September 1722 at Ecton
Ecton
Ecton is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. The village is just east of Northampton, just off the A4500 road. It was one of the first villages in Northamptonshire to be given conservation status...
. He was at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School
There are three schools in England known as 'Merchant Taylors' School':*Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, Founded 1561*Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, Founded 1620*Merchant Taylors' Girls' School, Crosby, Founded 1888...
from 1731 to 1740, and in June 1740 was elected to a scholarship at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
. He graduated B.A. in 1744, and proceeded B.C.L. in 1768. In 1743 he was elected to a fellowship at St John's College, and held it for some years.
For a time he kept a school in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and probably at Courteenhall
Courteenhall
Courteenhall is a village south of the county town of Northampton, in the shire county of Northamptonshire, England, and about north of London. The village is located in a cul-de-sac.-Governance:...
. He also held the vicarage of The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton
The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton
The Holy Sepulchre is a Norman round church in Sheep Street, Northampton, England.Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, was responsible for making Northampton, England, a Norman stronghold by building a castle and a town wall...
. In 1760 Whalley succeeded James Townley
James Townley
Rev. James Townley was an English dramatist and anonymous playwright, the second son of Charles Townley, a merchant.-Early and Personal life:...
in the post of upper grammar master at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, and retained it until the summer of 1776. Subsequently, it is said, he was master of St. Olave's school, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. He was appointed on 5 February 1766 by the corporation of the city of London to the rectory of the united parishes of St Margaret Pattens
St Margaret Pattens
St Margaret Pattens is a Church of England church in the City of London, located on Eastcheap near the Monument. The dedication is to St. Margaret of Antioch.-History:...
and St Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London; and in 1768 he was presented by Christ's Hospital to the vicarage of Horley
Horley
Horley is a town in Surrey, England, situated south of the twin towns of Reigate and Redhill, and north of Gatwick Airport and Crawley.With fast links by train to London from Horley railway station, it has grown popular with commuters in recent years...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. Both these preferments he retained until his death.
Whalley married, on 16 January 1768, Betsey Jacobs of List Lane. He was in later life involved in money troubles. He lived for some months concealed in the house of his friend Francis Godolphin Waldron, but his hiding-place was discovered and he left for Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. After a few months' residence there he died at Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
on 12 June 1791. His widow survived until 16 March 1803. His library was sold in 1792. A portrait, drawn by Harding and engraved by Ridley, was in Harding's ‘Shakespeare Illustrated.’
Works
When Benjamin BucklerBenjamin Buckler
Benjamin Buckler was an antiquarian and an academic at the University of Oxford.-Life:Benjamin Buckler, from Warminster in Wiltshire, studied at Oriel College, Oxford, from 1733 onwards. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1736 and his Master of Arts degree in 1739; he was also elected...
declined in 1755 the work of preparing for publication the manuscripts of John Bridges
John Bridges (topographer)
-Life:Bridges was born at Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire, where his father then resided. His grandfather was Colonel John Bridges of Alcester, Warwickshire, whose eldest son of the same name purchased the manor of Barton Seagrave about 1665, and as an improving landowner introduced the...
' county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, the task was given to Whalley. The first volume of Bridges's History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire was brought out by Whalley in 1762, and the first part of the second volume appeared in 1769. A protracted delay then ensued, for financial reasons; the finished work came out in 1791 in two folio volumes.
Whalley edited in 1756 the Works of Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
in seven volumes, and the edition was reissued, as far as regards the dramatic works, in conjunction with those of Beaumont and Fletcher
Beaumont and Fletcher
Beaumont and Fletcher were the English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, who collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I ....
, in 1811. Waldron, in his edition of ‘The Sad Shepherd’ (1783), reproduced and expanded Whalley's annotations. Whalley went on with preparations for a second edition of Jonson's works, which Waldron commenced publishing in 1792 in numbers. The issue stopped with the second number.
Whalley's original works were:
- ‘An Essay on the Manner of Writing History’ (anon.), 1746.
- ‘An Enquiry into the Learning of Shakespeare,’ 1748.
- ‘Vindication of the Evidences and Authenticity of the Gospels from the Objections of the late Lord Bolingbroke,’ 1753.