Anthony Farmer (born 1657
[Jerome Bertram]
‘Farmer, Anthony (b. 1657)’
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
'', Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, 2004, accessed 7 September 2008) was an
Englishman
The English people are an ethnic group and nation native to England, who speak the English language, a West Germanic language, and share a common history and culture. The English identity is of Anglo-Saxon origin, when they were known in ...
nominated by King
James II to the office of President of
Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1687.
Life
Farmer was admitted to
St John's College, Cambridge, in 1672, and migrated to
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge or Oxford. ...
, in 1675. After he volunteered for the king's cause in the
Monmouth Rebellion, James II nominated him for the Magdalen Presidency in his mandate of 5 April 1687.
As Farmer was not a member of the college, and was widely believed to be a secret
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
, his appointment was rejected by the Fellows of the College.
[Macaulay, Thomas Babington, ''The History of England from the Accession of James II'', Vol II, p. 287] Farmer's appointment and subsequent rejection escalated tension between the King and the
Anglican establishment, and was one event among many that led to the
Glorious Revolution in 1688. Farmer was also said to be a lascivious drunk and womaniser who preferred to be down at the local taverns along the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
near
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
than attending to academic duties.
Quite apart from his political leanings, it was a bad character that most appalled the academics led by Dr
Henry Fairfax, who chose Dr
John Hough as President of the College, during the row at the
Fifth Commission of Ecclesial Causes in 1687. By contrast, Hough was a weighty academic, an
Anglican, and popular with the Fellows, who traditionally chose the new appointees. Hough was, moreover, an opponent of
Catholicism
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
and
absolutism.
One of those providing evidence against Farmer was
William Levett, Doctor of Divinity and Principal of
Magdalen Hall
Hertford College ( ), previously known as Magdalen Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on Catte Street in the centre of Oxford, directly opposite the main gate to the Bodleian Library. The colle ...
, Oxford (and later
Dean of Bristol
The Dean of Bristol is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Bristol, England. The Dean is Mandy Ford, since her installation on 3 October 2020.
List of deans
Early modern
*1542–1551 William Sno ...
). In his testimony against Farmer, Levett disparaged Farmer's character and temperament, which Levett said caused Farmer to withdraw from one college and be transferred to another. "Frequent complaints were brought to me by some of the masters," stated Levett, "that he raised quarrels and differences among them; that he often occasioned disturbances, and was of a troublesome and unpeaceable humour."
A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors, Vol. XII, T.B. Howell, printed by T.C. Hansard, London, 1816
/ref>
Notes
1657 births
Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford
English Roman Catholics
17th-century English people
18th-century English people
Year of death unknown
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