GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-001438
NameWilliam Cole
TitleMr.
Gendermale
DenominationChurch of England
Livedb. 1714-08-03 - d. 1782-12-16 (new)
Linked Manuscriptsmanuscript owner - Papers mainly belonging to William Cole: Add MS 33498manuscript owner - Tracts relating to the University of Cambridge: Add MS 5960
Linked Sermons
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesAlburgh -- ParishBurnham -- ParishHornsey -- ParishWaterbeach (Waterbeche) -- ParishKing's College -- Place of StudyBletchley -- PostWithersfield -- Post
Source of DataACAD (Venn) (ID: CL732W); ODNB (Article: 5863); Anne James; Hannah Yip.
Biographical Sources ConsultedACAD (Venn) (ID: CL732W); ODNB (Article: 5863)
Other NoteWilliam Cole was born in the parish of Little Abington, Cambridgeshire on 3 August 1714. He was educated at Eton College, where he met Horace Walpole, with whom he was to remain on close terms for the rest of his life. He was admitted sizar at Clare College, Cambridge on 25 January 1733. Cole migrated to King's College, Cambridge in June 1736, graduating B.A. in 1737 and proceeding M.A. in 1740. On Christmas Day, 1744, he was ordained deacon and served as curate at Withersfield, Suffolk. In April 1745, he was ordained priest; shortly after, he served as chaplain to the Earl of Kinnoul in 1747. Cole was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in November 1747. In 1749, he was instituted to the rectory of Hornsey, Middlesex, and held this living until 1751. From 1753 until 1767, he was rector of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire; subsequently, he served as curate of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. Finally, he became vicar of Burnham, Buckinghamshire on 10 June 1774. William Cole died on 16 December 1782 at Milton, Cambridgeshire, and was buried at St Clement's, Cambridge on 22 December. He is best remembered today as an antiquary, and held one of the largest private collections of stained glass.
GEMMS record createdMay 08, 2017
GEMMS record last editedAugust 25, 2021