Richard Holdsworth facts for kids

Richard Holdsworth (sometimes spelled Houldsworth or Oldsworth) was an important English scholar and religious leader. He was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1590 and passed away on August 22, 1649. He served as the Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1637 to 1643.

Even though Emmanuel College was known for its Puritan beliefs (a group of Protestants who wanted to "purify" the Church of England), Holdsworth shared these religious views. However, when it came to politics, he didn't agree with the Parliament's actions and showed support for the King, who was known as a Royalist.

His Life and Career

Richard Holdsworth was the son of Richard Holdswourth, who was a Vicar (a type of priest) in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Richard Jr. was baptized on December 20, 1590. He began his studies at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1607. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1610 and became a Fellow (a senior member of the college) in 1613.

Early Roles and Influence

Holdsworth worked as a chaplain (a religious advisor) for Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet. In 1624, he became the rector (the main priest) of St Peter-le-Poor church in London.

In 1629, he became the first divinity lecturer (a teacher of religious studies) at Gresham College who was chosen from the Puritan group. He held this important teaching job until 1637. His good reputation in London also led him to become the president of Sion College in 1639. He also held the title of Archdeacon of Huntingdon, which is a senior church official.

During the English Civil War

Holdsworth was a member of the Westminster Assembly, a group of religious leaders who met to discuss the Church of England during the English Civil War. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge for two years, which is a very high position in the university. From 1643, he was the Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, another important teaching role.

However, because he openly supported the King (Royalist views) during the war, he lost his job as Master of Emmanuel College. He was even briefly put in prison by the Parliament.

In 1647, the King appointed him as the Dean of Worcester, which is a leader of a cathedral. Some people also say the King wanted him to become the Bishop of Bristol. But because of the war, it was very difficult for him to take up these positions.

His Ideas on Education

Richard Holdsworth was seen as someone who wanted to make education more modern. He followed the ideas of thinkers like Francis Bacon and Comenius, who believed in new ways of learning. He also liked clear and simple writing.

Teaching Methods

He taught his students at St. John's College, including a student named Simonds D'Ewes, by having them take detailed notes. This was a new way to help students learn and remember information.

He also helped a famous mathematician named John Wallis get started in mathematics. Holdsworth introduced Wallis to William Oughtred, another important mathematician. This helped Wallis focus on math, especially since Wallis was a student at Emmanuel College when Holdsworth arrived.

His Amazing Book Collection

Holdsworth loved books! He collected a huge number of them, about 10,000 books in total. This was said to be the largest private book collection in England at that time. He left all these books to the Cambridge University Library in his will. The collection finally arrived there in 1664 after some legal delays.

He is also thought to have written a guide called Directions for a Student in the Universite. This guide described a four-year plan for a classical education, focusing on subjects like Latin and Greek. However, some historians are not completely sure if he wrote it.