William Gretton facts for kids

William Gretton (born 1736, died 1813) was an important person at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was the 'master' of the college, which is like being its head.

Early Life and Education

William Gretton was born in 1736 in London. His father was John Gretton, who lived on Bond Street. William went to school at St. Paul's School.

After that, he studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge, which is part of Cambridge University. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1758. Later, in 1761, he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.

Church and University Roles

After finishing his studies, William Gretton became a priest. In 1766, he became the vicar of a church in Saffron Walden, Essex. A vicar is a type of priest who leads a local church.

In 1784, a nobleman named Lord Howard de Walden chose William Gretton to be his personal chaplain. A chaplain is a priest who serves a specific person or institution. Later, Gretton also became the rector of Littlebury, another town in Essex.

He was also part of the 'commission of the peace' for Essex. This meant he helped keep law and order in the county. On December 2, 1795, he was made the Archdeacon of Essex. An archdeacon is a senior church official who helps a bishop manage a large area.

In 1797, William Gretton was elected as the master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. This was a very important leadership role at the college. He also served as the 'vice-chancellor' of the whole University of Cambridge from 1800 to 1801. The vice-chancellor is like the main leader of the entire university.

William Gretton passed away on September 29, 1813.