Ralph Hamsterley (died August 1518) was a

Master Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

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England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

.Carr, William,
University College
',

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, 1998. . Chapter V,
The Sixteenth Century
' (pages 74–94).Darwall-Smith, Robin, ''A History of University College, Oxford''.

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, 2008. . ''The Failure of Ralph Hamsterley'', Pages 89–92. Hamsterley was a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of Merton College, Oxford, who became Principal of the adjoining St Alban Hall. He had livings and canonries in

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham *County Durham, an English county * Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States *Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...

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, and

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. He was

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

at Oddington in

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, west Oxfordshire. In 1507 and 1508, he failed to become

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of Merton College. The following year, he was elected Master of University College by five fellows of the college on 23 September 1509. Hamsterley was an outsider with considerable means and the appointment was controversial. The Visitors of University College, including the

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and others, were divided about the appointment. The matter was referred to the Chancellor of Oxford,

William Warham William Warham ( – 22 August 1532) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to his death. Early life and education Warham was the son of Robert Warham of Malshanger in Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford ...

, also Archbishop of Canterbury, whom he summoned to Lambeth Palace on 13 January 1510. Warham supported Hamsterley as Master. Hamsterley had a memorial brass of himself placed in the College Chapel. He also gave brasses to

, Merton College, Queen's College, and the church at Oddington.

References

Year of birth missing 15th-century births 1518 deaths 15th-century English Roman Catholic priests 16th-century English Roman Catholic priests 15th-century scholars 16th-century scholars Fellows of Merton College, Oxford Masters of University College, Oxford Principals of St Alban Hall, Oxford {{UOxford-stub