Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 7th November 1823 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 item, paper
Context area
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.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
List, probably in the hand of William French, detailing plants to be bought for the University Observatory and Jesus College. For the observatory, plants listed are beech, box, holly, silver fir, Portugal laurels, laurustines, evergreen oaks, evergreen privet, evergreen and flowering shrubs, laurels, purple beeches, crab stocks for grafting, gooseberries, rough rid champagne, hornbeam, whin, sweets, Phillyneas. For Jesus College, plants listed are Irish ivy, evergreen and flowering shrubs. For himself, plants listed are silver fir, holly, Portugal laurels, Common laurels, evergreen oaks, purple beeches, sweet briars, laurestines, whin, sumacs, spruce firs, larch, dwarf cherries, flowering shrubs.