John Alleyn (died 25 March 1686) was a seventeenth-century

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

and the fifth Master of the

College of God's Gift The College of God's Gift, often referred to as the Old (Dulwich) College, was a historic charity founded in 1619 by the Elizabethan actor and businessman Edward Alleyn who endowed it with the ancient Manor of Dulwich in south London. In 1857 it ...

Early life

He was of the son of

Matthias Alleyn Matthias Alleyn (died 9 April 1642) was a 17th-century London gentleman and the second Master of the College of God's Gift. Early life He was born the cousin of Edward Alleyn in London. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1627. With his second wife ...

, the second Master of the same College and was of St Margaret's parish near

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. His father had been a cousin of the Founder of the College,

Edward Alleyn Edward "Ned" Alleyn (; 1 September 156621 November 1626) was an English actor who was a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre and founder of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich. Early life Alleyn was born on 1 September 1566 in Bishopsga ...

and he was the last Warden or Master to have a definite family relationship to the Founder. He did not remain unmarriedOrmiston, T. L., (1926), ''Dulwich College Register'',page 10, (J J Keliher & Co Ltd: London) but in other respects met

's requirements as laid out the Deed of Foundation of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich, which was soon colloquially referred to as "Dulwich College", that the Master and Warden should always be unmarried and of Alleyn's blood, and surname, or failing that of his surname.Hodges, S, (1981), ''God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College'', page 8, (Heinemann: London) His wife, Lucia, bore him a son who died as an infant.

Career

Before becoming Warden on 5 April 1669, he had practiced as a surgeon. He became Master on 24 January 1677/1678. He has been grouped as one of the ''"sad procession of non-entities"'' who, with few exceptions, had little regard to furthering Alleyn's directions to provide every poor scholar with adequate preparation for the world. Hodges, S, (1981), ''God's Gift: A Living History of Dulwich College'', page 17, (Heinemann: London) However, he was known to be skilled in music, practiced as a surgeon, and was awarded an Honorary DCL by the

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in January 1670. He died on 25 March 1686. He was buried in the College Chapel along with his wife.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alleyn, John 1686 deaths English surgeons Year of birth missing Masters of the College of God's Gift