John Richardson Selwyn
Encyclopedia
John Richardson Selwyn (20 May 1844 – 12 February 1898) was a rower
and became the second Bishop of Melanesia and the second Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
. He made significant financial contributions along with others to the construction of the Southern Cross No. 4
ship.
, New Zealand, the youngest son of George Augustus Selwyn
and his wife Sarah Richardson the only daughter of Sir John Richardson
. His father was the first Bishop of New Zealand who gave his name to Selwyn College, Cambridge. Selwyn was educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, graduating in 1866. Like his father, Selwyn rowed for Cambridge
and took part in the Boat Races of 1864 and 1866, both of which were won by Oxford. In 1864 he won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
partnering Robert Kinglake
and beating Edwin Brickwood
and his brother in the final.
Selwyn was ordained deacon by his father (Lichfield) in 1869 and priest in 1870. He was curate of Alrewas
, Staffordshire from 1869 to 1870 and curate of St George's, Wolverhampton
from 1870 to 1871. He then became Vicar of St George's. In 1873 he travelled to Melanesia
as a missionary
, and from 1877 to 1892 was Bishop of Melanesia. After being invalided back to England Selwyn was appointed as the second Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
in 1893, a position he held until his death. From 1892-1895 he was honorary chaplain to Queen Victoria.
Selwyn married Clara Long-Innes and, after her death in 1877, Annie Catherine, eldest daughter of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort
, the Australian industrialist.
The south east window of the chapel of Selwyn College was dedicated to the memory of John Selwyn in 1900.
Selwyn is listed in the Calendar of saints (Church of the Province of Melanesia)
.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and became the second Bishop of Melanesia and the second Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. He made significant financial contributions along with others to the construction of the Southern Cross No. 4
Southern Cross (ship)
Southern Cross has been the name of a succession of ships serving the Melanesian Mission of the Anglican Church and the Church of the Province of Melanesia. She succeeded the Undine, a 21-ton schooner built at Auckland and in service from 1849 to 1857...
ship.
Life
Selwyn was born in WaimateWaimate
WaimateUrban AreaPopulation:2,835 Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Waimate District CouncilPopulation:7,206 Land area:3,582.19 km² Mayor:John ColesWebsite:...
, New Zealand, the youngest son of George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
and his wife Sarah Richardson the only daughter of Sir John Richardson
John Richardson (naturalist)
Sir John Richardson was a Scottish naval surgeon, naturalist and arctic explorer.Richardson was born at Dumfries. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University, and became a surgeon in the navy in 1807. He traveled with John Franklin in search of the Northwest Passage on the Coppermine Expedition of...
. His father was the first Bishop of New Zealand who gave his name to Selwyn College, Cambridge. Selwyn was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, graduating in 1866. Like his father, Selwyn rowed for Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
and took part in the Boat Races of 1864 and 1866, both of which were won by Oxford. In 1864 he won the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
partnering Robert Kinglake
Robert Kinglake
Robert Alexander Kinglake was an English rower and barrister.Kinglake was born at Taunton. He was the second son of John Alexander Kinglake, MP for Rochester, and his wife Louisa Rebecca Liddon, daughter of John Liddon of Taunton. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge...
and beating Edwin Brickwood
Edwin Brickwood
Edwin Dampier Brickwood was a British rower who won the Wingfield Sculls in 1861 and the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta in 1859 and 1862. He also wrote about rowing....
and his brother in the final.
Selwyn was ordained deacon by his father (Lichfield) in 1869 and priest in 1870. He was curate of Alrewas
Alrewas
Alrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
, Staffordshire from 1869 to 1870 and curate of St George's, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
from 1870 to 1871. He then became Vicar of St George's. In 1873 he travelled to Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, and from 1877 to 1892 was Bishop of Melanesia. After being invalided back to England Selwyn was appointed as the second Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
in 1893, a position he held until his death. From 1892-1895 he was honorary chaplain to Queen Victoria.
Selwyn married Clara Long-Innes and, after her death in 1877, Annie Catherine, eldest daughter of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort
Thomas Sutcliffe Mort
Thomas Sutcliffe Mort was an Australian industrialist responsible for improving refrigeration of meat. He was renowned for speculation in the local pastoral industry as well as industrial activities such as his Ice-Works in Sydney's Darling Harbour and dry dock and engineering works at...
, the Australian industrialist.
The south east window of the chapel of Selwyn College was dedicated to the memory of John Selwyn in 1900.
Selwyn is listed in the Calendar of saints (Church of the Province of Melanesia)
Calendar of saints (Church of the Province of Melanesia)
The calendar of saints and commemorations in the Church of the Province of Melanesia is a continually developing list. Both old and new, universal and local saints and worthies are celebrated....
.