Henry Aldrich
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Henry Aldrich (1647–1710) was an English theologian and philosopher.
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[edit] Life
He was educated at Westminster School under Dr Richard Busby. In 1662, he entered Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1689 was made Dean in succession to the Roman Catholic John Massey, who had fled to the Continent. In 1692, he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. In 1702, he was appointed Rector of Wem in Shropshire, but continued to reside at Oxford, where he died on 14 December 1710. He was buried in Christ Church Cathedral without any memorial, at his own request.
[edit] Works
Aldrich was a man of unusually varied gifts. A classical scholar of fair merits, he is best known as the author of a little book on logic (Compendium Artis Logicae), a work of little value in itself, but used at Oxford (in Mansel's revised edition) till long past the middle of the 19th century.
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."
Evidence of his skill as an architect may be seen in the church and campanile of 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.
Another specimen of his wit is furnished by the following epigram of the five reasons for drinking:
- Si bene quid memini, causae sunt quinque bibendi;
- Hospitis adventus, praesens sitis atque futura,
- Aut vini bonitas, aut quaelibet altera causa.
The translation runs:
- 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.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Henry Aldrich", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
- Free scores by Henry Aldrich in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jonathan Edwards |
Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1692–1695 |
Succeeded by Fitzherbert Adams |
