Robert Carr (bishop) facts for kids
Robert James Carr (born 1774, died 1841) was an important English church leader. He became the Bishop of Chichester in 1824 and later the Bishop of Worcester in 1831.
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Early Life and Education
Robert James Carr was born on May 9, 1774, in Feltham, London. His father, Reverend Colston Carr, was a vicar, which is a type of church minister. His mother was Elizabeth Bullock.
Robert was the oldest son in his family. His older sister, Elizabeth Ann, married a knight named Sir James Lloyd. His younger brother, Henry William Carr, became a high-ranking military officer.
Robert's father also worked as a chaplain for members of the royal family. He served the King's younger brother, Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and later the King's son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn.
Robert first went to a school run by his father in Twickenham. After that, he attended Merchant Taylors' School in London. In 1792, he went to Worcester College, Oxford, a famous university. He earned several degrees there, including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1796.
Church Career and Royal Connections
Following in his father's footsteps, Robert James Carr joined the Church of England. He became a priest in 1798. He held several church jobs before becoming the vicar of Brighton in 1804.
Brighton was a busy fishing town and a popular holiday spot. The Prince of Wales, who would later become King George IV, spent a lot of time there. Robert and the Prince became good friends, and their friendship lasted for many years.
When the Prince became King George IV in 1820, he helped his friend Robert get important church positions. Robert was made a Deputy Clerk of the Closet, which was a royal chaplain role. He also became a Dean and a Canon at Hereford Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, and Chichester Cathedral.
Just four years later, in 1824, Robert was made the Bishop of Chichester. This meant he had to leave his jobs in Brighton and Salisbury. In 1827, he was promoted again to Clerk of the Closet, an even higher royal chaplain position. In 1828, he became a canon at St Paul's Cathedral in London, giving up his roles in Hereford.
Role in Parliament
As a bishop, Robert James Carr was also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. In 1829, he voted against a law called the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. This law was about giving more rights to Roman Catholics. While he didn't speak against it, he showed his opposition in other ways.
During King George IV's final illness, Robert was often by the King's side at Windsor Castle. He helped the King with some personal worries he had.
In 1831, a new king, William IV, became ruler. He promoted Robert to the important position of Bishop of Worcester. This promotion was believed to be a promise made by the late King George IV. Robert then left his job at St Paul's Cathedral.
When the House of Lords voted on the Reform Bill in 1832, Robert chose not to vote. This bill was about changing how people voted in elections. After King William IV died in 1837, Robert no longer had influence at court. In 1831, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists.
Robert James Carr passed away on April 24, 1841, when he was 67 years old. He was buried next to his wife in Hartlebury churchyard. He only published a few sermons, which were speeches given for charity.
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Family Life
In 1797, Robert James Carr married Nancy Wilkinson in Twickenham. Nancy was the youngest daughter of a rich businessman named John Wilkinson.
Robert and Nancy had nine children together, but only four of them lived to adulthood:
- Maria (1801–1888) married a lawyer and politician named William Laslett in 1842. They later separated.
- Sybella Jane (1802–1879) married Charles Peckham Peckham, a landowner. They had eight children. Her granddaughter, Sibylla Wallace, married a famous zoologist.
- Elizabeth Lloyd (1804–1885) married Reverend Thomas Baker. He was a chaplain to her father when he was Bishop of Chichester. They had nine children. One of their great-grandsons became a high-ranking Air Marshal.
- George Kirwan (1810–1877) changed his last name to Carr Lloyd. He became a landowner in Sussex.
