Richard Minshull or Minshall (died 1686) was an English academic, Master of
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wife ...
from 1643.
Life
He was baptised in
St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. Although the first church on the site was reputedly founded in the 9th century by the Danes, the current ...
, London. He matriculated at Sidney Sussex College in 1616, and graduated B.A. in 1620. He graduated M.A. in 1623; he received the higher degrees of B.D. in 1630 and D.D. in 1644.
He was elected to the mastership in a close contest, and the first for which the Fellows had chosen, the previous Masters having been outside nominees. On 13 September 1643 eleven Fellows met in the college chapel. The candidates were one of them external,
Herbert Thorndike of
Trinity College, Cambridge, and Minshull who was a Fellow of Sidney. Herbert was a royalist, while Minshull had the backing of
Oliver Cromwell, a college contemporary. The matter hung in the balance but was settled by the intervention of the troops of
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, in command of the
Eastern Association covering the area for Parliament since August of that year. Despite the strong-arm tactics employed, Charles I confirmed the appointment and Minshull continued in the post for the rest of his life.
He was vice-chancellor of the university in 1652.
Notes
1686 deaths
Roundheads
Masters of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Year of birth unknown
Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge
Alumni of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
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