Sir William Clerke, 8th Baronet facts for kids

Sir William Henry Clerke, 8th Baronet (born November 25, 1751 – died April 10, 1818) was an English clergyman. He served as the rector, or head priest, of a church in Bury, Lancashire.

Early Life and Learning

William Clerke was born on November 25, 1751. His family came from Buckinghamshire, an old county in England.

School Days

He went to John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon. Today, this school is known as Abingdon School.

University Studies

After Abingdon, William continued his education at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a famous college at Oxford University. He earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Civil Law. He also became a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, which means he was a senior member of the college.

Becoming a Baronet

In 1778, William became the 8th Baronet in his family. This happened after his older brother, Francis, passed away. Francis was a brave soldier who served as a special assistant to General John Burgoyne in North America. He was badly hurt during the Battles of Saratoga and later died from his injuries.

His Work and Contributions

Before Francis died, he asked General Burgoyne to help his brother William, who had become a clergyman, find a good position.

Rector of Bury

Thanks to General Burgoyne, William was given the job of rector of Bury. He started this role on February 6, 1778. He cared a lot about the health of the people in his parish (the area his church served).

Helping the Community

William worked hard to improve the health of his parishioners. He helped vaccinate children from poor families. He even traveled to Rochdale once a week for a long time to give vaccinations there too.

In 1790, when a fever was spreading, he wrote a pamphlet. It was called Thoughts upon the Means of Preserving the Health of the Poor by Prevention and Suppression of Epidemic Fever. This booklet offered helpful ideas for keeping people healthy and stopping the spread of sickness. It also included a letter from Dr. Thomas Percival, who was known for his charity work.

Other Writings

When people worried about a French invasion, William printed two more pieces of writing. One was a sermon he gave in Bury on October 18, 1798. It was for a special event where flags were given to the local volunteer group. The other was called A Serious Address to the People of this Country.

The lieutenant-colonel of the Bury Volunteers was Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet, a very important person. His second wife was William Clerke's sister. William also wrote a book called Penitens, or the Dying Tradesman.

Business Dealings

William Clerke enjoyed farming and business. He bought and sold a lot of corn, malt, and lime. He was a kind person, but sometimes others took advantage of him in his business dealings.

Family Life

In May 1792, William Clerke married Byzantia, who was the daughter of Thomas Cartwright. Their oldest son, also named William Henry, became the 9th Baronet. He was a soldier and fought in the Peninsular War and at the famous Battle of Waterloo.

See also

• List of Old Abingdonians