William Fraigneau (1717–1788) was a Greek professor at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. Fraigneau was the son of John Fraigneau, of

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Be ...

extraction. He was born in London in 1717, and became a

Queen's Scholar The Kings's Scholarships (formerly Queen's Scholarships} are forty-eight scholarships (eight per year until Sixth Form, then twelve per year) at Westminster School, (re)founded in 1560 by Queen Elizabeth I. The scholars take part in the coronatio ...

Westminster School (God Gives the Increase) , established = Earliest records date from the 14th century, refounded in 1560 , type = Public school Independent day and boarding school , religion = Church of England , head_label = Hea ...

in 1731. He proceeded to

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

, in 1736. Graduating B.A. 1739 and M.A. 1743, he took holy orders, and was elected a fellow. In 1743 he was appointed professor of Greek to the university, and held that position till 1750, when he resigned it. He then accepted the post of tutor to the family of Frederick, lord Bolingbroke, and in March 1758 was by him presented to the living of Battersea. Three years later the same patron gave him the living of Beckenham, Kent, and in 1765 a dispensation passed to enable Fraigneau to hold the two livings conjointly. He retained both appointments till his death in Brighton on 12 September 1788. He is described by ColeAthenæ Cantab. F. p. 109 as ‘a little man of great life and vivacity.’

Wife

He married, 31 March 1758, Catherine (Miss Kitty Smith) (died Brompton 1807), daughter of Robert Smith, (c. 1672–1748), merchant, a freeman of London, of Thames Street, London and Mortlake.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraigneau, William 1717 births 1788 deaths People educated at Westminster School, London Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge English Christian religious leaders 18th-century English educators Regius Professors of Greek (Cambridge)