Robert Wright (bishop)

The Right Reverend
Robert Wright
Bishop of Lichfield
Diocese Diocese of Lichfield
In office 1632–1643
Predecessor Thomas Morton
Successor Accepted Frewen
Other posts Bishop of Bristol (1623–1632)
Personal details
Born 1560
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Died September 1643
Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire
Nationality British
Denomination Anglican
Alma mater Trinity College, Oxford

Robert Wright (1560–1643) was an English bishop, first holding the see of Bristol and then the see of Lichfield and Coventry. He died at an episcopal palace, under siege in the First English Civil War.

Life

Wright was born of humble parentage in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1560, and probably attended the refounded free school there (now St Albans School), where preference was given to poor scholars of the borough. He matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1574 at the age of 14, was elected to a scholarship in 1575, and graduated as a B.A. in 1580, becoming a fellow the next year. He proceeded to obtain an M.A. in 1584, a B.D. in 1592 and a D.D. in 1597.

In 1601, Wright was made Canon Residentiary and Treasurer of Wells, a post he held until 1632. He was appointed chaplain to both Queen Elizabeth I and James I. In 1613 he was appointed the first warden of the newly established Wadham College, resigning three months later as the college required the warden to remain celibate, but Wright had obtained Royal dispensation to marry. A son, Calvert, was born in 1620 and baptised at Sonning Church in Berkshire where Robert had been vicar since 1604. In 1623, he was appointed as Bishop of Bristol, and was later translated to the See of Lichfield and Coventry in 1632.

He died at the seat of the Bishops of Lichfield, Eccleshall Castle in Staffordshire, in September 1643 but, as the castle was under siege by Parliamentarians at the time, could not be properly buried.

Academic offices
Preceded by
First Warden
Warden of Wadham College, Oxford
April 1613 - July 1613
Succeeded by
John Fleming
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Rowland Searchfield
Bishop of Bristol
16231632
Succeeded by
George Coke
Preceded by
Thomas Morton
Bishop of Lichfield
16321643
Succeeded by
Accepted Frewen


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