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- 24th June 1834 (Creation)
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1 item, paper
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Name of creator
Biographical history
Master of Jesus College, 1820-1849.
William French was the son of Thomas French, a wealthy yeoman at Eye in Suffolk. He was educated at Ipswich Grammar School. In 1807 he entered Gonville and Caius College and was second wrangler and Smith's prizeman. He graduated BA in 1811 and MA in 1814. In 1811 he was elected as a Fellow and Tutor at Pembroke College. He became a University Proctor in 1816.
In 1821 he married Elizabeth Maria, daughter of John Wythe of Eye, and was made DD by Royal Mandate, and served in the office of Vice-Chancellor. He held this position again in 1834, when he also acted as one of the syndics appointed to superintend the building of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
In 1827 he was presented by the Lord Chancellor to the living of Moor Monkton, Yorkshire. In 1832 he became a canon of Ely Cathedral.
He died in the lodge at Jesus College on 12 November 1849.
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Letter from William French to Thomas Wythe .Written from Cambridge 24th June 1834. Recalls a recent trip to Oxford, saying that he had good weather for the days journey and that he found suitable accommodation when he got there. Talks about cost of lodgings. He was only in Oxford for a day to witness the ceremony. Went to the theatre and met Mr. Goulburn. They then spent the rest of the evening together, first at the theatre, then the Duke's levee and then the Archbishop's. Between levees they had a 'very acceptable' lunch in the Hall of All Souls. The scene of people paying their respects to the Archbishop was 'much enlivened by the various military drepes which peeped from under the doctors gowns'. Called upon Lord Eldon with Mr. Goulburn and they all met in a court at University College. He recalls Lord Eldon pointing to a window in University College and saying 'it is now just 68 years since I first took possession of that room'. He finished his day in one of the rooms of the censors of Christchurch with a small party of his friends. The following Friday, after returning to Cambridge, he went with the Dean to Ely where he stayed for four or five days. Talks of needing to plan a journey to Yorkshire. Signed W. French. Red wax seal.