Ralph Kettell

Ralph Kettell (1563–1643) was an English college head, the third President of Trinity College, Oxford. In a long tenure he built up the college both in terms of architecture and its academic reputation.

Life

He was the third son of John Kettell, gentleman, of

Sir Henry Blount. He rebuilt the college hall, and added attics or 'cocklofts ' to the old Durham College quadrangle, of which the east side still remains. About 1620 he built for the stone house in Broad Street which is still known as Kettell Hall, an investment of his own which later came to the college.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Kettell was one of the older heads of houses who disliked

Sir Francis Walsingham's widow and to Thomas Bilson, Bishop of Winchester. John Aubrey, who was admitted to Trinity in 1642, and knew Kettell in his old age, narrates many anecdotes.^[3]

Kettell died about 17 July 1643, and was buried at Garsington on 5 August. Aubrey states that "he had two wives, if not three, but no child", and that his second wife was the widow of Edward Villiers of Hothorpe Hall, Northamptonshire, whose daughter Elizabeth married George Bathurst and was the mother of Ralph Bathurst, president of Trinity College; but there are probably some inaccuracies here. His wife was buried at Garsington in 1624, and an infant daughter in 1606.^[3]

Notes

^ "Trinity College | British History Online".
^ "54 Broad Street".
^ ^a ^b ^c Dictionary of National Biography; s:Ralph Kettell (DNB00).

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Kettell, Ralph". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Academic offices
Preceded by Arthur Yeldard	President of Trinity College, Oxford 1599–1643	Succeeded by Hannibal Potter

[1] "Trinity College | British History Online".

[2] "54 Broad Street".

[DNB-3] Dictionary of National Biography; s:Ralph Kettell (DNB00).

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