Thomas Middleton (bishop) facts for kids
Thomas Fanshaw Middleton (born January 28, 1769 – died July 8, 1822) was a very important Anglican bishop. He is best known for being the first Bishop of Calcutta.
Life Story
Thomas Fanshaw Middleton was born in Kedleston, a village in Derbyshire, England. His father, also named Thomas Middleton, was a church leader there. Young Thomas went to a special school called Christ's Hospital. After that, he studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, which is a famous university.
Once he finished university, he became a priest in the Church of England. He worked in different church roles. For example, he was a curate in Gainsborough starting in 1792. He then became a Rector in Tansor and Bytham, and later held other important positions like Archdeacon of Huntingdon.
Bishop of Calcutta
In 1814, something very special happened. Thomas Middleton became the first ever Bishop of Calcutta. This was a huge job! His church area, called a diocese, covered not just India but all the lands controlled by the British East India Company. This company was a powerful British trading group that also ruled large parts of India at the time.
When Bishop Middleton arrived in India, he faced a challenge. He found out he wasn't allowed to make "Natives of India" (people born in India) into priests. All priests had to be officially approved by the East India Company back in London. To help with this, he started a special school called Bishop's College Calcutta in Calcutta. This college welcomed British, Indian, and Anglo-Indian students. Some of these students could then go on to become priests. Even though the college was built for many students, it only had a few in its early years.
Other Achievements and Death
In May 1814, Bishop Middleton was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a big honor given to people who are very smart in science and literature. He was recognized for his writings and his knowledge in different areas of study.
Sadly, Thomas Middleton died in Calcutta on July 8, 1822, from sunstroke. He was buried under the altar of St. John's Church in Calcutta, which was the main church there at the time. There is also a special memorial for him in St Paul's Cathedral in London.
His Writings
Thomas Middleton also wrote a book called The Doctrine of the Greek Article Applied to the Criticism and Illustration of the New Testament. This book was about how the ancient Greek language was used in the New Testament part of the Bible.
