Lancelot Blackburne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Lancelot Blackburne |
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| Archbishop of York | |
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Archbishop Blackburne (attr. Joseph Highmore)
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| Province | Province of York |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| In Office | 1724–1743 (death) |
| Predecessor | William Dawes |
| Successor | Thomas Herring |
| Other posts | Dean of Exeter (1705–1717) Archdeacon of Cornwall (1715–1717) Personal chaplain to George I (1716) Bishop of Exeter (1717–1724) Lord High Almoner (1723–1743) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1681 (deacon) |
| Consecration | 1717 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 December 1658 London, Great Britain |
| Died | 23 March 1743 (aged 84) |
| Buried | St Margaret's, Westminster |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Catherine (m. 1684–1726) |
| Education | Westminster School |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Lancelot Blackburne (born December 10, 1658 – died March 23, 1743) was an important English church leader. He became the Archbishop of York, which is a very high position in the Church of England.
Interestingly, some people believed he had a secret past as a pirate. A famous writer, Horace Walpole, even described him as "the jolly old Archbishop of York." Walpole said Blackburne had the manners of a well-bred person, even though he was thought to have been a pirate.
Contents
Early Life and the Pirate Rumor
Lancelot Blackburne was born in London. He went to Westminster School and later studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. In 1680, he finished his studies.
In 1681, he became a deacon, which is the first step to becoming a priest in the Church of England. After this, he traveled to the West Indies. He was in Nevis in 1684.
During these years, a popular story spread that he sailed with pirates. Some said he was their chaplain, offering religious guidance. Others claimed he was a pirate himself. There isn't much proof for these stories. However, a record from 1681 shows he received money from King Charles II for "secret services." This suggests he might have been involved in some hidden activities.
Becoming Archbishop of York
Blackburne returned to England in 1684. He married Catherine Talbot that same year. Soon after, he started taking on various roles in the church.
In 1691, he became a Canon at Exeter Cathedral. This is a senior priest who works at a cathedral. He later became the Dean of Exeter in 1705. This role meant he was in charge of the cathedral.
In 1715, he became the Archdeacon of Cornwall. The next year, he worked for King George I as his personal chaplain. In 1717, he was made the Bishop of Exeter. As a Bishop, he was active in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He supported changes to laws there.
In 1724, Lancelot Blackburne reached a very high position. He became the Archbishop of York. This made him a Privy Counsellor, meaning he advised the King. He held this important job until he died.
While he was Archbishop, he remained active in politics. However, he sometimes paid less attention to his church duties. He did not perform many confirmations and stopped ordaining new priests after ten years. Instead, he spent a lot of time in London, often at the royal court. He was also the Lord High Almoner from 1723 to 1743. This role involved distributing money to the poor on behalf of the King.
Controversies and Legacy
Blackburne's career was sometimes debated. People said his behavior was not always what you would expect from an Archbishop. One story tells how he was asked to leave a church service by the local vicar. This happened after he made an unusual request during a confirmation service.
A local legend in York even claimed that the famous highwayman Dick Turpin was once his butler!
Lancelot Blackburne passed away in London on March 23, 1743, after being ill for some time. His wife, Catherine, had died earlier, and they did not have any children.
Horace Walpole described Blackburne as a "fine gentleman" even in his old age. He said Blackburne enjoyed the writer Edmund Waller's work. Walpole also shared a story about Blackburne that the Queen herself had repeated. It showed that Blackburne was very much involved in the world around him, including politics.
Styles and Titles
- 1658–1681: Lancelot Blackburne Esq.
- 1681–1691: The Reverend Lancelot Blackburne
- 1691–1705: The Reverend Canon Lancelot Blackburne
- 1705–1717: The Very Reverend Lancelot Blackburne
- 1717–1724: The Right Reverend Lancelot Blackburne
- 1724–1743: The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Lancelot Blackburne
