357:, who went into print with the opinion that he should have advanced further in his career than he did, but there are signs elsewhere that he lacked some of the ambition and political skill necessary for such advancement, "a very honest, virtuous, good man; a good husband and father, and an excellent brother, but ... poor creature ... in conversation, manner, and behaviour...a plodding, industrious man, bred under his cousin John Burton of Eton," according to the antiquary
250:: unfortunately, however, the eighth prebendary chair to which this canonry entitled him was lower in the Christ Church cathedral hierarchy than the fifth prebendary chair which Bentham had up till now occupied since 1754. In this sense, it was impossible to avoid the observation that elevation to the regius professorship represented not merely an academic promotion but also a canonical demotion. In this context the
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277:. The "striking innovation" in this context, according to the twentieth-century historian R.Greaves, was that Bentham did not charge any fees to students attending the lectures. Surviving notes by students indicate a real-world practical approach, coupled with an adherence to the lecturer's own moderate high church biblical orthodoxy.
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Edward
Bentham had a wide circle of friends in the academic world, but he also had his critics, and he seems to have made a long term enemy of William King, the Master of St Mary Hall (college), who after his death described Bentham waspishly as "Half a casuist, half lawyer, half Courtier, half Cit,
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in April 1754, the previous canon, a Dr. Newton, having died. Bentham's installation followed on 9 June 1754, and while canon he also acted as subdean and treasurer for more than another twelve years. He set in place reforms to address the "great confusion" in the "affairs of the treasury" which
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During his lifetime
Bentham was noted as an early riser who had often completed half a day's work before many others had begun their day. He enjoyed good health, but during his final years suffered a sporadic weakness in his eyes, attributed to "too free an use of them when he was young". He was
630:
The Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography names Elizabeth's father as Theophilus Bates of Alton in Hampshire. The Dictionary of National Biography states that Theophilus Bates came from Alton in Hertfordshire. The reason for preferring Hampshire over Hertfordhire is that
262:, saw the regius professorship as a step along the way to further ecclesiastical promotion; but in the event Edward Bentham was still serving as the Oxford University regius professor of divinity when he died more than thirteen years later, in October 1776.
610:"The historical register of the University of Oxford: being a supplement to the Oxford University calendar, with an alphabetical record of University honours and distinctions completed to the end of Trinity term 1888"
702:
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incapacitated by his final illness from 23 July 1776, but battled on with his studies "like a faithful soldier, in the exercise of his religion", dying at the start of the next month.
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who evidently knew him. The criticisms are more quotable, and more quoted, than the plaudits, but it is nevertheless clear that Edward
Bentham was also widely admired and liked.
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697:
183:, a cousin who became also a friend. He was listed as a scholar in 1726. Sources commend Bentham's erudition and even temperament. As soon as he had taken his
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supplied a critique of the appointment (which he had himself recommended to the king and energetically encouraged
Bentham to accept) in a letter written to the
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Edward
Bentham's appointment to the Oxford regius professorship of divinity took place in May or June 1763, following the death of the previous incumbent,
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on 31 May 1763: "I am sorry for poor
Bentham, but I am glad for the University". It is also reported that Edward Bentham's brother, the church historian
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achieved distinction as an antiquarian and historian of Ely
Cathedral. The family were distant cousins of the philosopher and reformer
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he found on taking up his appointment. (There is also mention made of the "negligence of the deputy ".)
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It was at this time, on 22 June 1754, that Edward
Bentham married Elizabeth Bates (died 1790) from
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387:"BENTHAM, EDWARD, D.D. (1707–1776), regius professor of divinity at Oxford, the son of..."
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to become vice-principal of that college, and took up the appointment on 6 March 1730 (
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where his father, the Rev. Samuel
Bentham, was employed as a minor canon at
598:. Vol. 4. The London Magazine Enlarged and Improved. pp. 181–184.
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440:"Bentham, Edward (1707–1776), Church of England clergyman and ... was..."
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246:. The professorship came with an automatic entitlement to a canonry at
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R.Greaves; L.S. Sutherland; L.G. Mitchell; T.H. Aston (January 1986).
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as a student on 28 March 1724. He studied under the supervision of
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Further promotions and appointments followed. He obtained his
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History of the University of Oxford: The Eighteenth Century
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An Introduction to Logick (Scholastick and Rational) (1773)
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Reflections upon the Nature and Usefulness of Logick (1740)
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The Correspondence of Jeremy Bentham, Volume 1: 1752-76
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After his death there were many, including his brother
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Bentham was an active regius professor. Encouraged by
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350:Half Tory, half Whig (may I add, half a Wit?)".
210:in 1749. On 22 April 1743 he was allocated a
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218:. At Oxford he was nominated as a canon at
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713:People associated with Christ Church, Oxford
498:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
449:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
308:Letter to a Young Gentleman of Oxford (1749)
323:Reflections on the Study of Divinity (1771)
187:degree he was invited by the principal of
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98:(23 July 1707 – 1 August 1776) was an
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533:Sprigge, Timothy L.S., ed. (1968).
159:In 1717, on the recommendation of
123:Family, provenance and early years
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649:. Vol. 5. OUP. p. 406.
313:A Letter to a Fellow of a College
708:Fellows of Oriel College, Oxford
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390:Dictionary of National Biography
171:where he sang as a chorister at
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693:People from Ely, Cambridgeshire
635:in Hampshire is known to exist.
392:. Smith, Elder & Co. &
333:De tumultibus Americanis (1776)
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612:. The Internet Archive. 1888
519:UK public library membership
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108:Regius Professor of Divinity
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595:The Life of Edward Bentham
252:Archbishop of Canterbury
230:in the nearby county of
531:For a family tree, see
143:. His younger brother,
89:The Rev. Samuel Bentham
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680:at Wikimedia Commons
504:10.1093/ref:odnb/2152
455:10.1093/ref:odnb/2150
291:(not a complete list)
165:Christ Church college
718:Natural philosophers
486:T. H. Cocke (2004).
437:Nigel Aston (2004).
238:Regius professorship
204:Bachelor of Divinity
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275:English priesthood
256:Archbishop of York
216:Hereford Cathedral
208:Doctor of Divinity
175:, before entering
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181:John Burton
177:the college
687:Categories
590:Dr. Kippis
544:048513201X
521:required.)
472:required.)
394:Wikisource
365:References
345:Evaluation
271:ordination
104:theologian
58:Occupation
616:9 October
509:9 October
460:9 October
399:9 October
273:into the
232:Hampshire
193:Gregorian
81:Elizabeth
592:(1785).
385:(1885).
74:Children
51:England
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169:Oxford
155:Oxford
102:based
100:Oxford
86:Parent
79:Thomas
66:Spouse
47:Oxford
633:Alton
355:James
281:Death
228:Alton
651:ISBN
618:2015
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26:Born
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