Author: Wrangham, Francis
Biography:
WRANGHAM, Francis (1769-1842: ODNB)
Wrangham was born on 11 June 1769 near Malton, the only son of a wealthy farmer, George Wrangham (1742-1791), and his wife, Ann Fallowfield. Having been educated privately by the clerics Stephen Thirlwell, John Robinson, and Joseph Milner, the church historian, he matriculated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1786, and then migrated to Trinity Hall in 1787 (BA 1790, MA 1793). Though as a student he had won high distinction, he was a victim of intrigue and failed to be appointed fellow of his college. Ordained deacon in 1793, he was in that year appointed curate of North Frodingham and Catwick. Ordained priest in 1796, in that same year he was appointed perpetual curate of Muston, vicar of Hunmanby, domestic chaplain to the Duke of Montrose, vicar of Folkton, and domestic chaplain to the bishop of Carlisle. He was appointed in 1820 rector of Thorpe Bassett and archdeacon of Cleveland; in 1823, canon of York Minister and prebend of Ampleforth; in 1825, prepend of Chester Cathedral; in 1827, rector of Dodleston; and in 1828, archdeacon of East Riding. In 1807, he was elected fellow of the Royal Society. A liberal-minded cleric, he advocated educating women and the poor, the abolition of slavery, and Roman Catholic emancipation. At Bridlington on 7 Apr. 1799, he married Agnes (c. 1779-1800), the fifth daughter of Colonel Ralph Creyke, of Marton, Yorkshire. She died in childbirth, age 21, on 9 Mar. 1800. Their daughter, Agnes Everilda Frances (1800-1834), married William Wilberforce’s son Robert. At Brompton, near Scarborough, on 2 July 1801, he married Dorothy (1777-1860), the second daughter of the late Rev. Digby Cayley, rector of Thormanby. They had two sons and three daughters: Philadelphia Frances Esther (1802-1880); George Walter (1804-1855); Digby Cayley (1805-1863); Anne Caroline (b 1807); and Lucy Charlotte (1811-1889). His many publications were praised for their information and rhetorical brilliance. Some readers, however, such as a reviewer of The Raising of Jaïrus’ Daughter, found his writing to be ponderously learned: “Mr. W. seems rather to drag his genius after him than to be impelled and animated by it” (MR 1804, 426). A bibliophile, he was a member of the Roxburghe and Bannatyne Clubs. He died at Chester on 27 Dec. 1842. (ODNB 9 May 2023; CCEd 15 May 2023; “The Venerable Francis Wrangham,” Imperial Magazine [May 1831], 201-04) JC
Other Names:
- Archdeacon Wrangham
- F. Wrangham
- Mr. Wrangham