Degory Wheare
Encyclopedia
Degory Wheare, also spelt Digory Whear (the first name can be Latinized as Degoreus or Digoreus) (1573– died in 1647) was an historian, the first Camden Professor of Ancient History
in the University of Oxford
.
, Cornwall
, at the mansion of Berry Court. He matriculated at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, on 6 July 1593, graduated B.A. on 5 February 1597, and proceeded M.A. on 16 June 1600. He was a contemporary of Francis Rous
, a lifelong friend; and he was tutor at Broadgates Hall to John Pym
(matriculated 18 May 1599). Another Oxford friend was Charles Fitzgeoffrey
.
Wheare was admitted on 7 July 1602 as Cornish fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
, and became full fellow on 7 July 1603. He was headmaster of Abingdon School
from 1605-1606. He resigned his fellowship on 30 April 1608. In that year he went abroad as travelling companion to Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos
; and on his return to England Wheare continued to live with him. He was then permitted to occupy lodgings with his wife in Gloucester Hall, Oxford, where he became a close friend of Thomas Allen
.
Through the influence of Allen with William Camden
, the founder of the chair, Wheare was appointed on 16 October 1622 the first professor of modern history at Oxford, and he became principal of Gloucester Hall on 4 April 1626, where he expanded the student population. Anthony Wood
says that Wheare ‘was esteemed by some a learned and genteel man, and by others a Calvinist.’
Wheare died at Oxford on 1 August 1647, and was buried under the eagle in Exeter College Chapel on 3 August, a large gravestone marking the place of burial. He left a widow and several children, in poverty. Four of his sons had been educated at Oxford; Charles was an unsuccessful candidate on his father's death for the professorship of modern history.
, as The Method and Order for Reading both Civil and Ecclesiastical Histories.
Camden Professor of Ancient History
The Camden Professorship of Ancient History at the University of Oxford was established in 1622 by William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, and endowed with the income of the manor of Bexley. The Chair has been attached to Brasenose College since 1877...
in the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Life
He was born in JacobstowJacobstow
Jacobstow is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is located east of the A39 road approximately seven miles south of Bude....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, at the mansion of Berry Court. He matriculated at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, on 6 July 1593, graduated B.A. on 5 February 1597, and proceeded M.A. on 16 June 1600. He was a contemporary of Francis Rous
Francis Rous
Francis Rous or Rouse was an English politician and a prominent Puritan. He was also Provost of Eton, and wrote several theological and devotional works.-Early life:...
, a lifelong friend; and he was tutor at Broadgates Hall to John Pym
John Pym
John Pym was an English parliamentarian, leader of the Long Parliament and a prominent critic of James I and then Charles I.- Early life and education :...
(matriculated 18 May 1599). Another Oxford friend was Charles Fitzgeoffrey
Charles Fitzgeoffrey
-Early life and education:Fitzgeoffrey was born in Cornwall, the son of a Protestant clergyman named Alexander Fitzgeoffrey , who was Rector of the parish of St. Fimbarrus, Fowey...
.
Wheare was admitted on 7 July 1602 as Cornish fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, and became full fellow on 7 July 1603. He was headmaster of Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
from 1605-1606. He resigned his fellowship on 30 April 1608. In that year he went abroad as travelling companion to Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos
Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos
Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos was an English nobleman and courtier.-Early life:He was the only son of William Brydges, 4th Baron Chandos, who died on 18 November 1602, and Mary Hopton, who was daughter of Sir Owen Hopton. He was M.P. for Cricklade, in 1597.Brydges and his family were friendly...
; and on his return to England Wheare continued to live with him. He was then permitted to occupy lodgings with his wife in Gloucester Hall, Oxford, where he became a close friend of Thomas Allen
Thomas Allen (mathematician)
Thomas Allen was an English mathematician and astrologer.-Life:He was admitted scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, in 1561; and graduated as M.A. in 1567...
.
Through the influence of Allen with William Camden
William Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
, the founder of the chair, Wheare was appointed on 16 October 1622 the first professor of modern history at Oxford, and he became principal of Gloucester Hall on 4 April 1626, where he expanded the student population. Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
says that Wheare ‘was esteemed by some a learned and genteel man, and by others a Calvinist.’
Wheare died at Oxford on 1 August 1647, and was buried under the eagle in Exeter College Chapel on 3 August, a large gravestone marking the place of burial. He left a widow and several children, in poverty. Four of his sons had been educated at Oxford; Charles was an unsuccessful candidate on his father's death for the professorship of modern history.
Works
His most significant work was entitled De Ratione et Methodo Legendi Historias (Of the Reason for and Method of Reading Histories) published in October 1623. This was in origin his inaugural address for the new chair, in which he laid out a schema for the study of secular history, which found such a positive response that it went through many editions and expansions in the next decades. An English version was published in 1685 by Edmund BohunEdmund Bohun
Edmund Bohun was an English writer on history and politics, a publicist in the Tory interest.-Life:In the late 1660s he associated with William Sancroft, Samuel Parker and Leoline Jenkins, in a group of High Church proto-Tory thinkers. He began to write against the Whigs after the Exclusion Crisis...
, as The Method and Order for Reading both Civil and Ecclesiastical Histories.
See also
- Frederick Goddard TuckermanFrederick Goddard TuckermanFrederick Goddard Tuckerman was an American poet, remembered mostly for his sonnet series. Apart from the 1860 publication of his book Poems, which included approximately two-fifths of his lifetime sonnet output and other poetic works in a variety of forms, the remainder of his poetry was...
: Degory Wheare is referred to in a sonnet by this poet as a "forgotten sage" named Dagoraus Whear.