Province Province of York Nationality British Role Bishop Predecessor Robert Hay Drummond | Diocese Diocese of York Name William Markham Died 1807, South Audley Street | |
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In office 17 January 1777 (conf.)–1807 (death) Other posts Lord High Almoner (1777–1807)
Dean of Rochester (20 February 1765 {instit.}–October 1767)
Dean of Christ Church (October 1767 {exch.}–1777)
Bishop of Chester (February 1771 {conf.}–1777) Buried 11 November 1807, Westminster Abbey Place of burial Westminster Abbey, London, United Kingdom Successor Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt Children John Markham, George Markham Education Westminster School, Christ Church, Oxford | ||
William Markham (1719–3 November 1807), English divine and Archbishop of York, was educated at Westminster and at Christ Church, Oxford.
He was one of the best scholars of his day, and attained to the headship of his old school and college in 1753 and 1767 respectively. Between those headships, he held the deanery of Rochester 1765–1767. He held from time to time a number of livings, and in 1771 was made bishop of Chester and tutor to the Prince of Wales (later George IV). In 1776 he became Archbishop of York, and also Lord High Almoner and privy councillor.
He was a fierce critic of pamphleteer Richard Price concerning the American rebellion. He was for some time a close friend of Edmund Burke, but his strong championship of Warren Hastings caused a breach. He was accused by Lord Chatham of preaching pernicious doctrines, and was a victim of the Gordon Riots in 1780.
He married Sarah, the daughter of John Goddard, a wealthy English merchant of Rotterdam, with whom he had six sons and seven daughters. Of his sons John was an eminent Naval officer, George was Dean of York from 1802 to 1822 and William was Private Secretary to Warren Hastings and built Becca Hall in Aberford.
Bishop Markham was also the person who composed the Latin memorial for George Berkeley, the famous philosopher.