John Thomas (bishop of Winchester)

John Thomas
John Thomas
Bishop of Winchester
	1761 portrait by Nathaniel Dance-Holland
Diocese	Diocese of Winchester
In office	1761–1781 (d.)
Predecessor	Benjamin Hoadly
Successor	Brownlow North
Other post(s)	Bishop of Peterborough (1747–1757); Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of the Order of the Garter (1757–1761);
Orders
Consecration	4 October 1747
Personal details
Born	17 August 1696
Died	1 May 1781 (aged 84); Winchester House, Chelsea, Middlesex, Great Britain
Nationality	English
Denomination	Anglican
Alma mater	Keble College, Oxford

John Thomas (17 August 1696 – 1 May 1781) was an English bishop.

He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in 1719 and became Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1720.^[1]

He became Bishop of Peterborough in 1747, and was made preceptor to the future George III, then Prince of Wales, in 1752. In 1757 he became Bishop of Salisbury, and in 1761 Bishop of Winchester.^[1]

Life[edit]

He was the son of Stremer Thomas, a colonel in the Guards Regiment, born on 17 August 1696 at Westminster, and educated at Charterhouse school. He matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford, on 28 March 1713, and took the degrees of B.A. 1716, M.A. 1719, B.D. 1727, and D.D. 1731. In 1720 he was elected fellow of All Souls' College, and, having been disappointed of a living promised to him by a friend of his father, took a curacy in London. Here his preaching attracted attention; in 1731 he was given a prebend in St Paul's Cathedral, and was presented by the dean and chapter in 1733 to the rectory of St. Bene't and St. Peter, Paul's Wharf, which he retained till 1757.^[1]

In 1742 Thomas succeeded to a canonry of St Paul's, and held it till 1748. In 1742 he had been made one of George II's chaplains, and preached the Boyle lectures, which he did not publish; and, having secured the favour of the king when Prince of Wales, he was given the bishopric of Peterborough, and consecrated a bishop at Lambeth Palace on 4 October 1747.^[1] He had been elected to that See on 12 September, confirmed 3 October, and was enthroned by proxy on 24 October 1747.^[2]

In 1752 Thomas was selected to succeed Thomas Hayter as preceptor to the young Prince of Wales, later George III, James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave being governor; these appointments were directed against the influence of the Dowager Princess of Wales. In 1757 he followed John Gilbert as Bishop of Salisbury (and ex officio Chancellor of the Order of the Garter) and also as clerk of the closet; and in 1761 was translated to Winchester in succession to Benjamin Hoadly.^[1] He was elected to the See of Salisbury on 3 June, confirmed 18 June, and enthroned (by proxy) on 4 July 1757;^[3] and elected to the See of Winchester on 4 May, confirmed 23 May, and enthroned (by proxy) on 6 June 1761.^[4]

Thomas died at Winchester Palace, on 1 May 1781, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral. There are portraits of the bishop at the palaces of Salisbury and Lambeth, and a fine mezzotint engraving (three-quarter length in robes of the Garter) by R. Sayer from a picture by Benjamin Wilson, published on 24 January 1771.^[1]

Works[edit]

John Thomas published about ten works, mainly sermons.^[1]

Family[edit]

Thomas married Susan, daughter of Thomas Mulso of Twywell, Northamptonshire; her brother Thomas married the bishop's sister, and their daughter, Mrs. Hester Chapone, spent much of her time after her husband's death with her uncle and aunt at Farnham Castle. Mrs. Thomas died on 19 November 1778, leaving three daughters:^[1]

Susanna Thomas, married Newton Ogle, Dean of Winchester;
Anne Thomas, married William Buller, Bishop of Exeter;
Hester Thomas, married Rear Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle, 1st Baronet.

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Thomas, John (1696-1781)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 8, 1996, pp. 115–118
^ Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 6, 1986, pp. 1–5
^ Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 3, 1974, pp. 80–83

Attribution[edit]

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Thomas, John (1696-1781)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Robert Clavering	Bishop of Peterborough 1747–1757	Succeeded by Richard Terrick
Preceded by John Gilbert	Bishop of Salisbury 1757–1761	Succeeded by Robert Hay Drummond
Preceded by Benjamin Hoadly	Bishop of Winchester 1761–1781	Succeeded by Brownlow North

[DNB-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Thomas, John (1696-1781)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

[2] Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 8, 1996, pp. 115–118

[3] Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 6, 1986, pp. 1–5

[4] Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, vol. 3, 1974, pp. 80–83

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v t e Bishops of Peterborough
Early modern	John Chambers David Pole Edmund Scambler Richard Howland Thomas Dove William Piers Augustine Lindsell Francis Dee John Towers Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Benjamin Lany Joseph Henshaw William Lloyd Thomas White Richard Cumberland White Kennett Robert Clavering John Thomas Richard Terrick Robert Lamb John Hinchliffe
Late modern	Spencer Madan John Parsons Herbert Marsh George Davys Francis Jeune William Connor Magee Mandell Creighton Edward Carr Glyn Theodore Woods Cyril Bardsley Claude Blagden Spencer Leeson Robert Stopford Cyril Easthaugh Douglas Feaver Bill Westwood Ian Cundy Donald Allister Debbie Sellin

v t e Bishops of Salisbury
see at Sherborne	see erected from Winchester St Aldhelm Forthhere Herewald Æthelmod Denefrith Wigberht Eahlstan St Heahmund Æthelheah Wulfsige Asser Æthelweard Wærstan Æthelbald Sigehelm Alfred Wulfsige II Ælfwold I Æthelsige I Wulfsige III Æthelric Æthelsige II Brithwine I Ælfmær Brithwine II St Ælfwold II Herman see united with Ramsbury and removed to Old Sarum
see at Old Sarum	united from Sherborne & Ramsbury Herman Saint Osmund Roger Henry of Sully Philip de Harcourt Josceline de Bohon Hubert Walter Herbert Poore Richard Poore see removed to New Sarum
Medieval	Richard Poore Robert de Bingham William de York Giles of Bridport Walter de la Wyle Robert Wickhampton Walter Scammel Henry Brandeston Lawrence de Awkeburne William de la Corner Nicholas Longespee Simon of Ghent Roger Martival Robert Wyvil Ralph Ergham John Waltham Richard Mitford Nicholas Bubwith Robert Hallam John Chandler Robert Neville William Ayscough Richard Beauchamp Lionel Woodville Thomas Langton John Blyth Henry Deane
Early modern	Edmund Audley Lorenzo Campeggio Nicholas Shaxton John Capon Gasparo Contarini William Petow Francis Mallet John Jewel Edmund Gheast John Piers John Coldwell Henry Cotton Robert Abbot Martin Fotherby Robert Tounson John Davenant Brian Duppa Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Brian Duppa Humphrey Henchman John Earle Alexander Hyde Seth Ward Gilbert Burnet William Talbot Richard Willis Benjamin Hoadly Thomas Sherlock John Gilbert John Thomas (I) Robert Hay Drummond John Thomas (II) John Hume Shute Barrington John Douglas
Late modern	John Fisher Thomas Burgess Edward Denison Walter Kerr Hamilton George Moberly John Wordsworth Frederick Ridgeway St Clair Donaldson Neville Lovett Geoffrey Lunt William Anderson Joe Fison George Reindorp John Baker David Stancliffe Nick Holtam Stephen Lake

v t e Bishops of Winchester
Early Medieval 634–1006	Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester Agilbert, Bishop of Dorchester Wine Leuthere Hædde Daniel Hunfrith Cyneheard Æthelheard Ecgbald Dudd Cyneberht Ealhmund Wigthegn Herefrith (disputed) Eadmund (disputed) Eadhun Helmstan Swithun Ealhferth Tunbeorht Denewulf Frithestan Beornstan/Byrnstan Ælfheah I Ælfsige I Beorhthelm Æthelwold I Ælfheah II	Arms of the Bishop of Winchester
High Medieval 1006–1304	Cenwulf Æthelwold II Ælfsige II Ælfwine Stigand Walkelin William Giffard Henry of Blois Richard of Ilchester Godfrey de Luci Richard Poore Peter des Roches Ralph Neville William de Raley Aymer de Valence Andrew of London William de Taunton John Gervais Nicholas of Ely Robert Burnell Richard de la More John of Pontoise
Late Medieval 1305–1501	Henry Woodlock John Sandale Rigaud of Assier John de Stratford Adam Orleton William Edington William of Wykeham Henry Beaufort William Waynflete Peter Courtenay Thomas Langton
Early Modern 1501–1820	Richard Foxe Thomas Wolsey Stephen Gardiner John Ponet Stephen Gardiner John White Robert Horne John Watson Thomas Cooper William Wickham William Day Thomas Bilson James Montague Lancelot Andrewes Richard Neile Walter Curle Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Brian Duppa George Morley Peter Mews Jonathan Trelawny Charles Trimnell Richard Willis Benjamin Hoadly John Thomas Brownlow North
Late Modern 1820–current	George Pretyman Tomline Charles Sumner Samuel Wilberforce Harold Browne Anthony Thorold Randall Davidson Herbert Ryle Edward Talbot Theodore Woods Cyril Garbett Mervyn Haigh Alwyn Williams Falkner Allison John Taylor Colin James Michael Scott-Joynt Tim Dakin Philip Mounstephen

v t e Clerks of the Closet
17th century	Richard Neile William Juxon Matthew Wren Richard Steward Gilbert Sheldon John Earle John Dolben Walter Blandford Nathaniel Crew Thomas Sprat Sir Edward Petre John Tillotson Thomas Burnet John Montagu
18th century	William Graham Samuel Pratt Charles Trimnell Richard Willis Henry Egerton Joseph Butler John Gilbert John Thomas William Buller Richard Hurd
19th century	William Jackson George Pelham Robert Carr Edward Stanley John Graham Henry Philpott Randall Davidson
Since 1900	William Boyd Carpenter Hubert Burge Thomas Strong Cyril Garbett Percy Herbert Roger Wilson Gordon Fallows John Bickersteth John Waine Jonathan Bailey Christopher Hill James Newcome Richard Jackson

v t e Chancellors of the Order of the Garter
Bishops of Salisbury (1477–1550)	Richard Beauchamp Lionel Woodville Thomas Langton John Blyth Henry Deane Edmund Audley
Lay chancellors (1551–1671)	Sir William Cecil Sir William Petre Sir Thomas Smith Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Amias Paulet Sir John Wolley Sir Edward Dyer Sir John Herbert Sir George More Sir Francis Crane Sir Thomas Roe Sir James Palmer Sir Henry de Vic
Bishops of Salisbury (1671–1837)	Seth Ward Gilbert Burnet William Talbot Richard Willis Benjamin Hoadly Thomas Sherlock John Gilbert John Thomas Robert Hay Drummond John Thomas John Hume Shute Barrington John Douglas John Fisher Thomas Burgess
Bishops of Oxford (1837–1937)	Richard Bagot Samuel Wilberforce John Mackarness William Stubbs Francis Paget Charles Gore Hubert Burge Thomas Strong
Knights Companion (since 1937)	The Duke of Portland The Earl of Halifax The Marquess of Salisbury The Viscount Cobham The Marquess of Abergavenny The Lord Carrington The Duke of Abercorn