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{{Short description|English churchman}}
'''Robert James Carr''' (1774–1841) was an English churchman, [[bishop of Chichester]] in 1824 and [[bishop of Worcester]] in 1831.
{{EngvarB|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
'''Robert James Carr''' (1774–1841) was an English churchman, [[Bishop of Chichester]] in 1824 and [[Bishop of Worcester]] in 1831.
[[File:Robert James Carr.jpg|thumb|Engraving in bishop's robes]]


==Life==
==Early life==
Born 9 May 1774 and christened 9 June at [[Feltham]], London he was the eldest son of the Reverend Colston Carr, at the time vicar of Feltham, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Bullock.<ref>London Metropolitan Archives, St Dunstan with St Catherine, Feltham, Composite register of Saint Dunstan: baptisms 1711 – 1806, marriages 1711 – 1752, burials 1723 – 1806, DRO/013/A/01/003</ref> His elder sister, Elizabeth Ann, married [[Sir James Lloyd, 1st Baronet|Sir James Lloyd]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|Bt|MP}}, and his younger brother was Lieutenant-Colonel [[Henry William Carr|Sir Henry William Carr]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCB}}. His father, later vicar of [[Ealing]], was chaplain first to the King's younger brother [[Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] and, after his death, to the King's younger son, [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn]].


The son of the Rev. Colston Carr, a schoolmaster at [[Twickenham]], who was afterwards vicar of [[Ealing]], he was born at Twickenham. He received his primary education in his father's school before being sent to [[Merchant Taylors' School]], London.<ref>Minchin, J. G. C., ''Our public schools, their influence on English history; Charter house, Eton, Harrow, Merchant Taylors', Rugby, St. Paul's Westminster, Winchester'' (London, 1901), p. 194.</ref> Afterwards he went up to [[Worcester College, Oxford]]. In 1798 he was ordained by the [[Bishop of Salisbury]], and was shortly presented to the vicarage of [[Brighton]]. In 1806 he graduated M.A.
He received his primary education at a school his father ran in [[Twickenham]], before being sent to [[Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood|Merchant Taylors' School]], London.<ref>Minchin, J. G. C., ''Our public schools, their influence on English history; Charterhouse, Eton, Harrow, Merchant Taylors', Rugby, St. Paul's, Westminster, Winchester'' (London, 1901), p. 194.</ref> From there he went up in 1792 to [[Worcester College, Oxford]], gaining the degrees of BA in 1796, MA in 1806 and both BD and DD in 1820.<ref>{{alox2|title=Carr, Robert James}}</ref>


==Career==
While he was vicar of Brighton his eloquence commended him to the [[Prince Regent]], and a friendship began which only terminated with the death of George IV. In 1820 he was appointed [[dean of Hereford]], and in the same year he took the degrees of B.D. and D.D. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, and, along with his bishopric, held a canonry in [[St Paul's Cathedral]]. He was also appointed [[clerk to the closet]], an honorary position which he held until the accession of [[Queen Victoria]], when he was dismissed for political reasons.
Following his father and grandfather into the Church of England, he was ordained priest in 1798 by the [[Bishop of Salisbury]] and held various appointments until 1804, when he became vicar of [[Brighton]]. A busy fishing port and holiday resort, it was where the [[Prince of Wales]], the future King [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]], spent much time and a friendship began between the two men which lasted for life.


When the Prince became King in 1820, he was able to advance his friend, who was appointed [[Deputy Clerk of the Closet]], [[Dean of Hereford|Dean and Canon of Hereford]] and [[Canon (priest)|Canon]] of [[Salisbury Cathedral]] and of [[Chichester Cathedral]]. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, giving up his posts at Brighton and Salisbury. In 1827 he was promoted to [[Clerk of the Closet]] and in 1828 was made a canon of [[St Paul's Cathedral]], giving up his posts at Hereford.
Carr was the prelate who attended George IV during his last illness. In 1831 he was translated to the bishopric of Worcester, in fulfillment, as it was understood at the time, of a promise made by the late king. In the House of Lords, he was one of the bishops who voted against the [[Roman Catholic Relief Bill]], and while not speaking against the measure, opposed it in other ways. His views were orthodox and strict, though leaning towards the evangelical.


In the [[House of Lords]], he was one of the bishops who voted against the [[Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829|Roman Catholic Relief Bill]] in 1829 and, while not speaking against the measure, opposed it in other ways. During the King's last illness, he was in constant attendance at [[Windsor Castle]] and was able to help with two matters on the king's conscience: his estrangement from his brother, the [[Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex|Duke of Sussex]], and the possible breach of his [[oath of office|coronation oath]] in allowing [[Catholic emancipation]].
He died in 1841, aged 67, at [[Hartlebury Palace]], from paralysis, and was buried in the churchyard of the parish. His only published works were sermons preached for charitable objects.

In 1831 the new king, [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]], promoted him to the bishopric of Worcester, in fulfilment, as it was understood at the time, of a promise made by the late king. He then gave up his post at St Paul's, being succeeded by [[Sydney Smith]]. When the House of Lords voted on the [[Reform Act 1832|Reform Bill]] in 1832 he abstained.<ref>{{cite ODNB|title = Carr, Robert James (1774–1841)|author = H. C. G. Matthew|url = https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/4755|date = 23 September 2004| doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/4755 |access-date = 18 November 2021}}</ref> After the death of the king in 1837, he was replaced as Clerk of the Closet and had no further influence at court. He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1831.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collections.royalsociety.org/DServe.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Persons&dsqPos=4&dsqSearch=%28%28text%29%3D%27%20Carr%27%29|title= Fellow Details|publisher= Royal Society|access-date=2017-01-18}}</ref>

He died on 24 April 1841, aged 67, in [[The Old Palace, Worcester]] and was buried on 3 May beside his wife in [[Hartlebury]] churchyard. His only published works were sermons preached for charitable purposes. [[File:Hartlebury church (geograph 2550728).jpg|thumb|80px|Hartlebury church]]


==Family==
==Family==
In 1797 at Twickenham he married Nancy (1774–1841), youngest daughter of John Wilkinson, a wealthy businessman who lived at [[Roehampton]], and his wife Sibella Berdoe. They had nine children, of whom only four survived:
*Maria (1801–1888), who in 1842 married the Worcester solicitor and MP [[William Laslett]]. They separated shortly after, without children, and the unhappy episode was fictionalised in the 1861 novel [[East Lynne]].
*Sybella Jane (1802–1879), who married the Sussex landowner Charles Peckham Peckham and had eight children. Her granddaughter Sibylla Wallace married the zoologist [[Stanley Smyth Flower]].
*Elizabeth Lloyd (1804–1885), who married the Reverend Thomas Baker, a first cousin of [[Fanny Brawne]]. He was chaplain to her father at Chichester and later rector of Hartlebury. They had nine children, a great-grandson being Air Marshal Sir [[John Baker-Carr]].
*[[George Kirwan Carr Lloyd|George Kirwan]] (1810–1877), who changed his surname to Carr Lloyd and became a Sussex landowner.


==References==
In 1797 he married Nancy, daughter of John Wilkinson of [[Roehampton]], by whom he had a large family, of which only four children survived him. His daughter Maria (1801-1888) in 1842 married the Worcester solicitor and MP [[William Laslett]] but they separated shortly after. Their marriage was fictionalised in the popular novel [[East Lynne]].
{{Reflist}}
His younger brother Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry William Carr KCB (1777-1821) in 1815 married Jane, widow of the assassinated prime minister [[Spencer Perceval]], and became stepfather to her twelve surviving children.

===Attribution===
*{{DNB|wstitle=Carr, Robert James}}


{{start box}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|en}}
{{s-rel|en}}
{{succession box | before=[[John Buckner]]| title=[[Bishop of Chichester]] | after=[[Edward Maltby]] | years=1824&ndash;1831}}
{{succession box | before=[[George Grelton]]| title=[[Dean of Hereford]] | after=[[Edward Mellish (priest)|Edward Mellish]] | years=1820–1827}}
{{succession box | before=[[Folliott Herbert Walker Cornewall]]| title=[[Bishop of Worcester]] | after=[[Henry Pepys]] | years=1831&ndash;1841}}
{{succession box | before=[[John Buckner (bishop)|John Buckner]]| title=[[Bishop of Chichester]] | after=[[Edward Maltby]] | years=1824–1831}}
{{succession box | before=[[Folliott Herbert Walker Cornewall]]| title=[[Bishop of Worcester]] | after=[[Henry Pepys]] | years=1831–1841}}
{{end box}}
{{s-end}}


{{DNB|Carr, Robert James}}
{{Deans of Hereford}}
{{Bishops of Chichester}}
{{Bishops of Worcester}}
{{Clerks of the Closet}}


{{authority control}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Robert James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Robert James}}
[[Category:1774 births]]
[[Category:1774 births]]
[[Category:1781 deaths]]
[[Category:1841 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood]]
[[Category:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Deans of Hereford]]
[[Category:Bishops of Chichester]]
[[Category:Bishops of Chichester]]
[[Category:Bishops of Worcester]]
[[Category:Bishops of Worcester]]
[[Category:Deans of Hereford]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Old Merchant Taylors]]
[[Category:Clerks of the Closet]]

Latest revision as of 02:36, 14 November 2023

Robert James Carr (1774–1841) was an English churchman, Bishop of Chichester in 1824 and Bishop of Worcester in 1831.

Engraving in bishop's robes

Early life[edit]

Born 9 May 1774 and christened 9 June at Feltham, London he was the eldest son of the Reverend Colston Carr, at the time vicar of Feltham, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Bullock.[1] His elder sister, Elizabeth Ann, married Sir James Lloyd Bt MP, and his younger brother was Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry William Carr KCB. His father, later vicar of Ealing, was chaplain first to the King's younger brother Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and, after his death, to the King's younger son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.

He received his primary education at a school his father ran in Twickenham, before being sent to Merchant Taylors' School, London.[2] From there he went up in 1792 to Worcester College, Oxford, gaining the degrees of BA in 1796, MA in 1806 and both BD and DD in 1820.[3]

Career[edit]

Following his father and grandfather into the Church of England, he was ordained priest in 1798 by the Bishop of Salisbury and held various appointments until 1804, when he became vicar of Brighton. A busy fishing port and holiday resort, it was where the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV, spent much time and a friendship began between the two men which lasted for life.

When the Prince became King in 1820, he was able to advance his friend, who was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Closet, Dean and Canon of Hereford and Canon of Salisbury Cathedral and of Chichester Cathedral. Four years later he was consecrated bishop of Chichester, giving up his posts at Brighton and Salisbury. In 1827 he was promoted to Clerk of the Closet and in 1828 was made a canon of St Paul's Cathedral, giving up his posts at Hereford.

In the House of Lords, he was one of the bishops who voted against the Roman Catholic Relief Bill in 1829 and, while not speaking against the measure, opposed it in other ways. During the King's last illness, he was in constant attendance at Windsor Castle and was able to help with two matters on the king's conscience: his estrangement from his brother, the Duke of Sussex, and the possible breach of his coronation oath in allowing Catholic emancipation.

In 1831 the new king, William IV, promoted him to the bishopric of Worcester, in fulfilment, as it was understood at the time, of a promise made by the late king. He then gave up his post at St Paul's, being succeeded by Sydney Smith. When the House of Lords voted on the Reform Bill in 1832 he abstained.[4] After the death of the king in 1837, he was replaced as Clerk of the Closet and had no further influence at court. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1831.[5]

He died on 24 April 1841, aged 67, in The Old Palace, Worcester and was buried on 3 May beside his wife in Hartlebury churchyard. His only published works were sermons preached for charitable purposes.

Hartlebury church

Family[edit]

In 1797 at Twickenham he married Nancy (1774–1841), youngest daughter of John Wilkinson, a wealthy businessman who lived at Roehampton, and his wife Sibella Berdoe. They had nine children, of whom only four survived:

  • Maria (1801–1888), who in 1842 married the Worcester solicitor and MP William Laslett. They separated shortly after, without children, and the unhappy episode was fictionalised in the 1861 novel East Lynne.
  • Sybella Jane (1802–1879), who married the Sussex landowner Charles Peckham Peckham and had eight children. Her granddaughter Sibylla Wallace married the zoologist Stanley Smyth Flower.
  • Elizabeth Lloyd (1804–1885), who married the Reverend Thomas Baker, a first cousin of Fanny Brawne. He was chaplain to her father at Chichester and later rector of Hartlebury. They had nine children, a great-grandson being Air Marshal Sir John Baker-Carr.
  • George Kirwan (1810–1877), who changed his surname to Carr Lloyd and became a Sussex landowner.

References[edit]

  1. ^ London Metropolitan Archives, St Dunstan with St Catherine, Feltham, Composite register of Saint Dunstan: baptisms 1711 – 1806, marriages 1711 – 1752, burials 1723 – 1806, DRO/013/A/01/003
  2. ^ Minchin, J. G. C., Our public schools, their influence on English history; Charterhouse, Eton, Harrow, Merchant Taylors', Rugby, St. Paul's, Westminster, Winchester (London, 1901), p. 194.
  3. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Carr, Robert James" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
  4. ^ H. C. G. Matthew (23 September 2004). "Carr, Robert James (1774–1841)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4755. Retrieved 18 November 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. ^ "Fellow Details". Royal Society. Retrieved 18 January 2017.

Attribution[edit]

Church of England titles
Preceded by Dean of Hereford
1820–1827
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Chichester
1824–1831
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Worcester
1831–1841
Succeeded by