Robert Hovenden facts for kids
Robert Hovenden (1544–1614) was an important leader at the University of Oxford in England. He was the head of All Souls College, Oxford for many years. He also helped lead the entire Oxford University as its Vice-Chancellor. Hovenden was known for being a humanist, which means he believed in the importance of human values and education. He made many improvements to All Souls College, including building projects and creating detailed maps of the college's lands.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Hovenden was born in 1544, the oldest son of William Hoveden from Canterbury. He studied at the University of Oxford. In 1565, he became a Fellow (a senior member) of All Souls College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1566 and his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1570.
Leading All Souls College
In 1571, Robert Hovenden became the Warden (the head) of All Souls College. He held this important position for a very long time, until 1614. During his time as Warden, he also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1582 to 1583. The Vice-Chancellor is like the chief executive officer of the university.
Hovenden worked hard to make sure the college's lands were managed well. He had special strip maps made of the college's properties. These maps helped the college keep track of its estates. He also stood up to Queen Elizabeth I when she asked the college to lease land in a way that would have been bad for the college.
Improvements to the College
Hovenden made many improvements to All Souls College:
- He finished building the Warden's lodgings (the Warden's living quarters).
- He made the college grounds bigger by adding land from a nearby house.
- He reorganized the old library and turned it into new rooms.
- He created a better system for keeping the college's financial records and accounts.
- He organized and cataloged the college's important historical documents.
He also made sure the rules of the college were followed strictly. He even brought in poor scholars, called servientes, to study at the college. By 1612, there were 31 of these scholars.
Later Life and Legacy
Robert Hovenden passed away on March 25, 1614. He was buried in the chapel of All Souls College, where a monument was built in his memory.
Hovenden also wrote about the history of All Souls College. He wrote a life story of Archbishop Chichele, who founded the college. He also created a list of all the wardens and fellows of the college.
Family Connections
Robert Hovenden had two younger brothers who also had connections to All Souls College.
- His brother, Christopher (1559–1610), was also a Fellow of All Souls College. He later became the Rector of Stanton Harcourt, a position given by All Souls.
- His other brother, George (1562–1625), was the Rector of Harrietsham, another position connected to All Souls. He also held a prebend (a special church position) in Canterbury Cathedral.
