Papers of John William Whittaker

Comprises interesting descriptions of travels around Europe and the United Kingdom undertaken by JWW and his friends, discussions of St John's College life and the subsequent experiences of JWW's fellow Johnians, and material concerning JWW's life as chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury.and as Vicar of Blackburn. Includes interesting reflections and observations on political matters and contemporary theological debates. Also included are a few miscellaneous travel documents.

John William Whittaker was born in Bradford in 1791. He was admitted to St John's College in 1810, taking his BA in 1814 and gaining an MA in 1817. He was a Fellow of the College from 1814-26. In 1821 he was appointed examining chaplain to Charles Manners-Sutton, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was subsequently made Vicar of Blackburn from 1822 to 1854. His learning was wide, taking in philology, geology and astronomy, and he was involved in the formation of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1820. He wrote a number of important theological studies, including 'An Historical and Critical Inquiry into the Interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, with Remarks on Mr Bellamy's New Translation,' published in 1819, which brought him to the notice of the archbishop. He married Mary Haughton Feilden in 1825 and together they had eleven children. He died at Blackburn in 1854.

The documents have been through much re-arrangement. They are now grouped according to the headings of correspondence with family, with friends, documents relating to travel, and documents relating to the purchase of the letters by St John's College.

Open for consultation

Folders 1-17 of the collection were bought from Edward Hall, Surbiton, in 1955 and 1958. Folder 18 was bought from Jonathan Aldridge, Johannesburg, 2013

John William Whittaker was born in Bradford in 1791. He was admitted to St John's College in 1810, taking his BA in 1814 and gaining an MA in 1817. He was a Fellow of the College from 1814-26. In 1821 he was appointed examining chaplain to Charles Manners-Sutton, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was subsequently made Vicar of Blackburn from 1822 to 1854. His learning was wide, taking in philology, geology and astronomy, and he was involved in the formation of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1820. He wrote a number of important theological studies, including 'An Historical and Critical Inquiry into the Interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, with Remarks on Mr Bellamy's New Translation,' published in 1819, which brought him to the notice of the archbishop. He married Mary Haughton Feilden in 1825 and together they had eleven children. He died at Blackburn in 1854.

Preferred citation: St John's College Library, Papers of John William Whittaker, Whittaker

27 Mar 2013

Published