Robert Isaac Wilberforce
Encyclopedia
Robert Isaac Wilberforce (19 December 18023 February 1857) was an English
clergyman and writer, second son of abolitionist William Wilberforce
, and active in the Oxford Movement
.
in 1823.
and Keble
. For a few years he was one of the tutors at Oriel. The provost Edward Hawkins
disliked his religious views, and in 1831 Wilberforce resigned and left Oxford. In 1832 he obtained the living of East Farleigh
, Kent
, which in 1840 he exchanged for that of Burton Agnes
, near Hull
.
In 1841 he was appointed archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire. About this time Wilberforce became close with Henry Manning, and they exchanged many letters on theological and ecclesiastical questions. They were deeply involved in re-examining the relationship between the Church of England and Roman Catholicism.
In 1851 Manning joined the Roman Catholic Church
, and three years later Wilberforce took the same step. He was preparing for his ordination when he died at Albano
on 3 February 1857. He is buried in Rome at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
, near the Pantheon
. His tomb is situated just outside the right transept of the church. Wilberforce was pre-deceased by his first wife Agnes Everilda Frances Wrangham (1800–1834) and second wife Jane Legard (d. 1854).
He was survived by two sons, William Francis Wilberforce (1833–1905), Vicar of Brodsworth, and Edward Wilberforce (1834–1914), who became one of the masters of the Supreme Court of Judicature
. Edward's son Lionel Robert Wilberforce (1861–1944) was in 1900 appointed professor of physics in the University of Liverpool
, and his other children were:
R. I. Wilberforce assisted his brother, Bishop of Oxford
Samuel Wilberforce
(1805–1873) to write the Life and to edit the Correspondence of his father.
His first published work was a romance, Rutilius and Lucius (1842).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clergyman and writer, second son of abolitionist William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire...
, and active in the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
.
Early life and education
He was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, taking a double firstBritish undergraduate degree classification
The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for undergraduate degrees in the United Kingdom...
in 1823.
Career
In 1826 he was chosen fellow of Oriel and was ordained, among his friends and colleagues being Newman, PuseyEdward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
and Keble
John Keble
John Keble was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, and gave his name to Keble College, Oxford.-Early life:...
. For a few years he was one of the tutors at Oriel. The provost Edward Hawkins
Edward Hawkins
Edward Hawkins was an English churchman and academic, a long-serving Provost of Oriel College, Oxford known as a committed opponent of the Oxford Movement from its beginnings in his college.-Life:...
disliked his religious views, and in 1831 Wilberforce resigned and left Oxford. In 1832 he obtained the living of East Farleigh
East Farleigh
East Farleigh is a village and civil parish in the local government district of Maidstone, Kent, England. The village is located on the south side of the River Medway about two miles upstream of the town of Maidstone...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, which in 1840 he exchanged for that of Burton Agnes
Burton Agnes
Burton Agnes is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A614 mid way between Driffield and Bridlington. Places of interest include an Elizabethan Manor House, Burton Agnes Hall and a Norman Manor House, Burton Agnes Manor House...
, near Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
.
In 1841 he was appointed archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire. About this time Wilberforce became close with Henry Manning, and they exchanged many letters on theological and ecclesiastical questions. They were deeply involved in re-examining the relationship between the Church of England and Roman Catholicism.
In 1851 Manning joined the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, and three years later Wilberforce took the same step. He was preparing for his ordination when he died at Albano
Albano
Albano may refer to:geography*Albano di Lucania, comune in the province of Potenza, Italy*Albano Laziale, comune in the province of Rome, Italy*Lake Albano, lake in Italy*Albano Sant'Alessandro, comune in the province of Bergamo, Italy...
on 3 February 1857. He is buried in Rome at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
The Basilica of Saint Mary Above Minerva is a titular minor basilica and one of the most important churches of the Roman Catholic Dominican order in Rome, Italy. The church, located in the Piazza della Minerva in the Campus Martius region, is considered the only Gothic church in Rome. It houses...
, near the Pantheon
Pantheon, Rome
The Pantheon ,Rarely Pantheum. This appears in Pliny's Natural History in describing this edifice: Agrippae Pantheum decoravit Diogenes Atheniensis; in columnis templi eius Caryatides probantur inter pauca operum, sicut in fastigio posita signa, sed propter altitudinem loci minus celebrata.from ,...
. His tomb is situated just outside the right transept of the church. Wilberforce was pre-deceased by his first wife Agnes Everilda Frances Wrangham (1800–1834) and second wife Jane Legard (d. 1854).
He was survived by two sons, William Francis Wilberforce (1833–1905), Vicar of Brodsworth, and Edward Wilberforce (1834–1914), who became one of the masters of the Supreme Court of Judicature
Supreme Court of Judicature
Supreme Court of Judicature may refer to:* Supreme Court of Judicature . Supreme Court of Barbados* Supreme Court of Judicature , Supreme Court of Guyana* Supreme Court of Judicature , the supreme court in Ireland from 1877 to 1920...
. Edward's son Lionel Robert Wilberforce (1861–1944) was in 1900 appointed professor of physics in the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, and his other children were:
- Sir Herbert William Wrangham Wilberforce, Barrister (1864–1941)
- Alexander (Alex) Basil Edward Wilberforce (1867–1902)
- Evelyn Agnes Fannie Wilberforce (1872–1954)
R. I. Wilberforce assisted his brother, Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce was an English bishop in the Church of England, third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public speakers of his time and place...
(1805–1873) to write the Life and to edit the Correspondence of his father.
Writings
- Church Courts and Church Discipline (1843);
- Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist (1853);
- Doctrine of the Incarnation in Relation to Mankind and the Church (1848 and later editions);
- The Five Empires, a Sketch of Ancient History (1840);
- A Sketch of the History of Erastianism (1851); and
- An Enquiry into the Principles of Church Authority (1854)
His first published work was a romance, Rutilius and Lucius (1842).