William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury

In 1809, William Howley was appointed Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University. He was consecrated Bishop of London at Lambeth Palace in 1813, a post he occupied for fifteen years until being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. Howley served as Archbishop of Canterbury for twenty years from 1828 to 1848.

Howley's grandfather was, probably, a Lawrence Hooley/Howley of Heaton Mersey: and his uncle, Joseph Hooley [sic] was vicar of Newtown Linford, Leics. Both father and [presumed] uncle went to Brasenose College, Oxford. Howley was born in 1766 at Ropley, Hampshire, where his father was vicar. He was educated at Winchester College and in 1783 went to New College, Oxford. After some time working in Somerset as a private tutor, in 1809 he was appointed regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University (as well as becoming a Fellow of Winchester and a Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.)

He was an active English Freemason, having joined the 'Royal York Lodge' in Bristol on 21 December 1791 aged 25, and served the lodge regularly until his elevation to the episcopate took him to London.

In October 1813, at Lambeth Palace, he was consecrated Bishop of London, a post he was to occupy until 1828, when he became Archbishop of Canterbury.

Links:

• Painting at The National Portrait Gallery
• Wiki Pedia