James Yorke (9 March 1730 – 26 August 1808) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

clergyman. Yorke was the son of

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, (1 December 16906 March 1764) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 17 ...

and Margaret Cocks. He was educated at

Newcome's School Newcome's School was a fashionable boys' school in Hackney, then to the east of London, founded in the early 18th century. A number of prominent Whig families sent their sons there. The school closed in 1815, and the buildings were gutted in 182 ...

, proceeding in 1748 to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (M.A. 1752, D.D. 1770).

Career

Yorke served as Rector of Great Horkesley, Essex, 1754–1756. In 1756 he was appointed Canon of the tenth stall at

St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England is a castle chapel built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style. It is both a Royal Peculiar (a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch) and the Chapel of the Order of the Gart ...

, a position he held until 1762. He was

Dean of Lincoln The Dean of Lincoln is the head of the Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral in the city of Lincoln, England in the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln. Christine Wilson was installed as Dean on 22 October 2016.

1762–1781,

Bishop of St David's The Bishop of St Davids is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Davids. The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, ...

from 1774 to 1779,

Bishop of Gloucester The Bishop of Gloucester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire. The see's centre of governan ...

from 1779 to 1781 and then Bishop of Ely from 1781 to 1808. In 1793 he sought statutory powers to sell the bishop's palace and grounds in

Wisbech Wisbech ( ) is a market town, inland port and civil parish in the Fenland district in Cambridgeshire, England. In 2011 it had a population of 31,573. The town lies in the far north-east of Cambridgeshire, bordering Norfolk and only 5 miles ...

. The Bill passed despite the opposition of Sir James Ayre and the premises were sold by auction in the same year to Joseph Medworth. Eyre was son-in-law of Henry Southwell of Bank House,

Isle of Ely The Isle of Ely () is a historic region around the city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. Between 1889 and 1965, it formed an administrative county. Etymology Its name has been said to mean "island of eels", a reference to the creatures th ...

a member of the family tenanting the castle, and to that extent an interested party.

Family

On 29 June 1762, Yorke married Mary Maddox, daughter of

Isaac Maddox Isaac Maddox (27 July 1697 – 27 September 1759) was an Anglican clergyman, successively bishop of St Asaph and of Worcester. Life Isaac was the son of a Dissenter, Edward Maddox, stationer of London. He was orphaned at an early age, and b ...

, the Bishop of Worcester. They had several children, including: *Joseph Yorke (1765–1830), married Catherine Cocks, niece of

Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers (29 June 1725 – 30 January 1806), known as Sir Charles Cocks, 1st Baronet, from 1772 to 1784, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1747 to 1784. Life Cocks was the son of John Cocks and ...

, and became father of Joseph Yorke, politician *Rev. Philip Yorke (1770–1817), married Hon. Anna Maria Cocks, daughter of the 1st Baron Somers, and became father of

Philip James Yorke Philip James Yorke (13 October 1799 – 14 December 1874) was a British Army officer, scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society. Yorke was a founder of the Chemical Society in the United Kingdom. Life Yorke was born on 13 October 1799, the eldes ...

, soldier and scientist He was buried at Forthampton, Gloucestershire. His memorial is designed by

Robert Blore Robert Blore and Son were a late 18th century/early 19th century firm of sculptors based at 125 Piccadilly in central London. Background Robert Blore the elder appears to be born around 1760 and worked until 1820 (when he presumably died). Robert ...

of Piccadilly.Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis

References

1730 births 1808 deaths Bishops of Ely Bishops of Gloucester Bishops of St Davids Deans of Lincoln Younger sons of earls 18th-century Church of England bishops 19th-century Church of England bishops

James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

People educated at Newcome's School Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Canons of Windsor 18th-century Welsh Anglican bishops {{ChurchofEngland-bishop-stub