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The Life of Philip Douglas: A Scholar and a Priest
The life of Philip Douglas, a man whose influence spanned the latter
half of the eighteenth century and the dawn of the nineteenth, began in
Witham, Essex, on October 27, 1758. He was the son of Archibald Douglas of Kirkton and Elizabeth Burchard, and his lineage was notable. Among his siblings were Captain Archibald Martin John Douglas of the 13th Dragoons, Judge William Douglas, and Jane Douglas, who would go on to marry William Van Mildert, the respected Bishop of Durham
- the last prelate to rule the historic County Palatine of Durham.
Educated at the prestigious Harrow School, Philip continued his academic pursuits at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His time there was marked by steady progress, culminating in his B.A. in 1781, an M.A. in 1784, and finally a B.D. in 1793. His intellectual gifts were recognized by the college, where he was appointed a Fellow in 1782, became a Tutor in 1787, and eventually ascended to the highest office as Master of the College in 1795, a position he held until his death.
Douglas’s academic career was interwoven with service to the University, as he served twice as the esteemed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, first from 1795 to 1796, and again from 1810 to 1811. Concurrently, he embraced his calling to the church, being ordained in 1783 and serving his title at Whittlesford. His ecclesiastical duties extended to the parish of Gedney, where he held the position of vicar from 1796 until the end of his life.
In 1797, on June 15th, Philip Douglas married Mary Mainwaring at St Bene't's Church, Cambridge. Mary had been raised by her uncle, Dr. John Mainwaring, the Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, both of whom were descendants of Gilbert Mainwaring of Sherrall Hall. The couple were blessed with two children: the Reverend Philip William Douglas (1800–1872), who followed his father into the church, serving as Vicar of Bonby and Horkstow and curate of Escot; and a daughter, Mary, who remained unmarried until her death in 1846.
Tragedy touched Douglas’s life with the passing of his wife, Mary, who died in 1809 and was laid to rest at St Bene't's Church. Philip Douglas, D.D., himself passed away on January 2, 1822, at the age of 64. He was buried within the chapel of Corpus Christi College, the institution that had been the cornerstone of his academic and professional life.
Through his son, Philip William, the legacy of Douglas continued across generations, including his grandson, the Reverend Philip Henry Douglas, who married Lady Byron; John Ambrose Douglas, whose daughter Elizabeth became a noted archaeologist; and Sir Robert Kennaway Douglas.
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