Rev. Robert Lumley Lloyd

Admitted to Pembroke, Cambridge, in 1683, he gained BA 1686 & MA 1690 - having become a Fellow in 1688. Described as "a man of eminent abilities, which were displayed even when a boy at school, where he became the wonder of those who knew him; but he did not pursue his studies with the same vigour at college. Indeed, his chambers at Cambridge exhibited little more than scenes of revelry." He published a poem addressed to King William, in 1689, and "distinguished himself as a zealous whig". After taking holy orders, he became Chaplain to the Right Hon. Richard, Earl of Scarborough and, on 12 October 1701, whilst Senior Fellow of Pembroke-Hall, preached a sermon at Great St. Mary's [the University church], before the University of Cambridge on 'Christian charity'. At the parish church of Epsom in Surrey he delivered another sermon "on Wednesday the 8th of March, 1703/4. Being the Day of Her Most Sacred Majesty's Inauguration" [A Church of England feast day revived by Special Order to mark the commencement of Queen Anne's reign - in the second year of it.] Rev. Lloyd was subsequently admitted to the rectory of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, by the Duke of Bedford [Installed during 1704 by Wriothesley Russell, 2rd Duke?]. Robert Lloyd married Martha Strong on 7 June 1708. He published eight of his sermons, including one in 1711 dedicated to "...her most excellent majesty Anne, rightful and lawful Queen as a testimony of unfeigned loyalty to her, and of unshaken zeal for the Revolution and Protestant Succession".

A sermon delivered on 30 January 1711/12 incurred resentment by the Tory party and resulted in the Rev, Lumley Lloyd being lampooned by Jonathan Swift in The Story of St Alban's Ghost.

His detractors referred to the Reverend Doctor as nominal, so-called or self styled 'Honourable' but the arms displayed by the arms of the 'Hon. & Rev. R L Lloyd ' have been described as: - 'Lloyd Quarterly, Or and Azure, four Bucks trippant counter-charged, within a Bordure of the first, empaling Lumley as before. Lloyd, as before, empaling Gules, 1 Bars Or, between 6, Lozenges Arg. Goodwyn.

Robert Lumley Lloyd may have been ailing for some time before his demise. In a letter reported to have been sent by 'the former Rector of St Paul's, Covent Garden', on 13 October 1726, to the steward of the Duke of Bedford's Streatham estate, he wrote that '...I mightily desire to settle all my affairs before I die'.

Following his death, interment took place at Cheam on 1 August 1729.

It had been reported "Dr Lloyd had the character of a proud man, valuing himself much on his descent; was greatly attached to the study of botany, and was an esteemed florist." His gardens at Cheam were highly regarded.

Source: The Lloyd Family of Cheam