Charles Hotham (priest) facts for kids

Charles Hotham (born in 1615 in Scorborough – died around 1672 in Bermudas) was an English church leader. He was known for his learning and his interest in science.

Early Life and Education

Charles Hotham was born on May 12, 1615, in Scorborough, a village near Beverley in Yorkshire, England. His father was Sir John Hotham, who was a governor of Hull.

Charles went to Christ's College, Cambridge, for his education. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1636 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1639. He even wrote some Latin poems that were published by the university in 1635.

Life as a Cleric

In 1640, Charles became the leader of the church in Hollym, a village near Withernsea. He later left this role and returned to Cambridge. There, he became a fellow at Peterhouse college in 1644.

He was a university preacher in 1646 and also served as a proctor, which is like a university official. People thought he was very smart, strict in his beliefs, and had a good character. He was also known for being a "searcher into the secrets of nature," meaning he loved to explore how the world worked.

Interests and Writings

In his younger days, Charles Hotham studied astrology, which is the belief that stars and planets influence events. However, he later changed his mind about it. He also loved chemistry and astronomy.

In 1646, he gave a speech at Cambridge about the origin of the human soul. This speech was published as a book in 1648. His brother, Durant Hotham, even translated it into English in 1650.

Charles became the rector (another type of church leader) of Wigan in 1653. He also translated a book called "Consolatory Treatise of the Four Complexions" in 1654. In 1656, he wrote a poem for a book that was against drinking too much alcohol.

Challenges and Later Life

After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles Hotham was seen as having different religious views from the new government. He was forced to leave his position as rector of Wigan in 1662 because he would not follow the new rules.

After this, he moved to the West Indies, specifically to the Bermudas, where he continued his work as a minister. In his will, written in 1672, he asked for his astrology books to be burned. He called them "monuments of lying vanity," showing he no longer believed in astrology.

In his later years, he became very interested in chemistry and astronomy. He was even chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667, which is a very important group for scientists.

Family Life

Charles Hotham married Elizabeth Thompson in Wigan on September 15, 1656. She was from Humbleton, Yorkshire.

Their oldest son, also named Charles, later became the 4th Baronet in his family in 1691. He was originally meant to be a minister like his father, but he joined the army instead. He became a brigadier-general and a colonel. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Beverley and was knighted.