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COLL P 02

Reference code

COLL P 02

Title

Papers of Provost Hodgson, 1840 - 1852

Level

Series

Administrative / Biographical history

Hodgson came to Eton as a King's Scholar in 1794 and went on to King's College in 1800, becoming a Fellow in 1803. After two years as a private tutor followed by a year as an assistant master at Eton he returned to King's as a resident tutor. Follwing his marriage he had to resign his fellowship and in 1816 became Vicar of Bakewell, to which he later added the living of Edensor. In 1836 he became Archdeacon of Derby. He was nominated as Provost by Queen Victoria (who is said to have called him the handsomest clergyman in her kingdom) although as he was not a Bachelor or Doctor of Divinity he was not by statute eligible. The Fellows therefore elected John Lonsdale but on learning of the Crown's choice Lonsdale withdrew and Hodgson, after a hasty conferring of a BD, was formally elected. His first concern was to improve the conditions in which the King's Scholars lived and it was on his initiative that New Buildings were erected and proper provision made for the Collegers' comfort. He also encouraged many other reforms, notably the abolition of Montem. It was during his Provostship that the wall paintings in College Chapel were uncovered and he appears to have been mainly responsible for ensuring that they were hidden again behind Victorian Gothic stalls. He published translations, of which his Juvenal was particularly well known, and verse, and was a friend of Lord Byron, who lent him money to clear his father's debts.

Date

1841 - 1852

Content description

Almost none of provost Hodgson's papers survive as a group at Eton, although it is in his time that foirmal signed minutes of the Provost & Fellows make their appearance. However, letters he wrote to or forwarded to the Bursar and Registrar can be found in COLL/B1/1 & 2 and COLL/REG/1.

Associated material

An account of his election is at ECR 60/4/17 and of his estate at COLL/JB/COT/11. See COLL/B1/1; COLL/B1/2; COLL/REG/1 for letters he wrote to or forwarded to the Bursar and Registrar

Publication note

DNB Thomas Harwood : Alumni Etonenes, 1797 J. T. Hodgson : Memoir of the Rev. Francis Hodgson DD (Macmillan & Co., 1878)
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