Henry Aldrich

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For the radio show and film character, see The Aldrich Family. For the American mycologist, see Henry Carl Aldrich.
Henry Aldrich (circa 1689)

Henry Aldrich (15 January 1648 – 14 December 1710) was an English theologian, philosopher, architect, and composer.

Life

Aldrich was educated at

Oxford Cathedral sculpted by Henry Cheere.[6]

Works

A folio from Give ear, O Lord by Aldrich, written in his own hand.

Henry Aldrich was a man of unusually varied gifts. A

Peter of Spain's Summulae Logicales), its insistent use by generations of Oxford students has shown it to be of great synthetic and didactic value: the Compendium continued to be read at Oxford (in Mansel's revised edition) until long past the middle of the 19th century.[5]

Aldrich also composed a number of anthems and church services of high merit, and adapted much of the music of Palestrina and Carissimi to English words with great skill and judgment. To him we owe the well-known catch, "Hark, the bonny Christ Church bells."[5]

All Saints Church on the north side of the High Street
, designed by Henry Aldrich and completed in 1720.
Oxford's Christ Church Cathedral, memorial to Henry Aldrich
Peckwater Quadrangle of Christ Church, Oxford, designed by Henry Aldrich.

Evidence of his skill as an architect may be seen in the church and

All Saints Church, Oxford, and in three sides of the so-called Peckwater Quadrangle of Christ Church, which were erected after his designs. He bore a great reputation for conviviality', and wrote a humorous Latin version of the popular ballad A soldier and a sailor, A tinker and a tailor, etc.[5]

Another specimen of his wit is furnished by the following epigram of the five reasons for drinking:[5]

If on my theme I rightly think,
There are five reasons why men drink:—
Good wine; a friend; because I'm dry;
Or lest I should be by and by;
Or — any other reason why.

This epigram is a translation of the following Latin dictum attributed by the Menagiana to Jacques Sirmond:

Si bene quid memini, causae sunt quinque bibendi;
Hospitis adventus, praesens sitis atque futura,
Aut vini bonitas, aut quaelibet altera causa.

Aldrich had a large personal library of ca. 3000 books, 8000 pieces of music, and 2000 engravings which he bequeathed to Christ Church upon his death. His engravings constitute one of the earliest surviving English collections in this field. [8]

References

  1. ^ Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "Christ Church". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 228–238. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  2. ^ Horn, Joyce M., ed. (1996). "Deans of Christ Church, Oxford". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: volume 8: Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford and Peterborough dioceses. Institute of Historical Research. pp. 80–83. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Previous Vice-Chancellors". University of Oxford, UK. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  4. ISBN 0-674-37299-9
    .
  5. ^ a b c d e f Chisholm 1911.
  6. ^ Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis
  7. Oxford University
    . p. 147. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Henry Aldrich 1648-1710 - Book Owners Online". www.bookowners.online. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

Sources

External links

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Henry Aldrich
Academic offices
Preceded by Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
1689–1710 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University

1692–1695 		Succeeded by
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