James Beauclerk (abt. 1709 - 1787)

Born about 1709 in Windsor, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 20 Oct 1787 at about age 78 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England

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Lord James Beauclerk was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

Biography

Lord James Beauclerk, was born about 1709, the seventh son of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, and his wife Lady Diana de Vere, and the grandson of Charles II, King of England and Scotland.

He may have been intended for the Church from early in life as he was well-educated, entering Queen's College, Oxford University in 1727. He gained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1730, Master of Arts (MA) 1733 and a Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity (DD) in 1744. He was Canon of Windsor from 1743/44 - 1746 and consecrated Bishop of Hereford in 1746 at the relatively young age of 36.

Although there were a number of attempts to gain higher positions in the Church, such as Clerkship of the Closet in 1747 and 1752, Dean of Windsor in 1783 and Bishop of London in 1764, none of these succeeded and he remained Bishop of Hereford until his death.

This doesn't mean that he neglected his diocese; he was conscientious and determined to raise standards and conducted ordinations himself in Hereford Cathedral. He also demanded high standards from the candidates, and had a important influence on diocesan life.

He never married, but still was involved in the Beauclerk family, officiating at the marriage of his nephew George Beauclerk, 3rd Duke of St Albans at St George's, Hanover Square on 23 December 1752.

He died at Hereford on 20 October 1787 and was buried in Hereford Cathedral. His will left most of his possessions to his secretary, Richard Jones.

Sources

• Marshall, William, ‘Beauclerk, James (1709–1787)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 (http://www.oxforddnb.com.rp.nla.gov.au/view/article/64197 : accessed 6 April 2015).