Author: Plumptre, James
Biography:
PLUMPTRE, James (1771-1832: ODNB)
He was born into a prominent academic family: his mother Anne or Ann Newcome (1733-1807) was the daughter of the headmaster of Newcome’s School at Hackney, and his father was Robert Plumptre (1723-88), the President of Queens’ College, Cambridge; they married at Layham, Suffolk, on 7 Sept. 1756, and had ten children of whom James, born on 2 Oct. 1771, was the youngest son. His eldest brother became a clergyman and the next was called to the bar; his two elder sisters Anne and Annabella became successful writers of novels, plays, and translations. James was sent to Newcome’s School, known for its dramatic productions, and enjoyed both acting and writing for the stage. From there he went to Cambridge, matriculating at Queens’ in 1788 but migrating to Clare in 1790 (BA 1792, Fellow 1793, MA 1795, BD 1808). He was ordained deacon in 1794 and priest in 1796. He served as curate of Hinxton, Cambridgeshire (not Essex), from 1797 to 1805. In 1812 he was granted the college living of Great Gransden, Huntingdonshire, which he held until his death. On 6 June 1815 he married Elizabeth Robinson (1770-1836) at All Saints, Cambridge; there do not appear to have been any children from the marriage. Plumptre’s earliest publications set a pattern for his prolific writings, ranging from educational materials such as abridgments of Locke (1791) and Blair (1794) to comedies (The Coventry Act [1793], The Lakers [1798]) and other plays; classic dramas “edited” to remove objectionable materials (The Merchant of Venice [1791], The English Drama Purified [1812]); sermons; hymn collections; and journals of his walking tours. He died at his vicarage on 23 Jan. 1832 and was buried at his church on 31 Jan. (ODNB 26 Oct. 2023; findmypast.com 26 Oct. 2023; CCEd 26 Oct. 2023; ACAD; GM Apr. 1832, 369-70 [as “Robert Plumptre”])