Joseph Drury

Joseph Drury memorial, St Mary's, Harrow on the Hill

Joseph Drury (1750–1834) was Head Master of Harrow School 1785–1805, and first of a dynasty of Drurys to teach at Harrow.

He married Louisa Heath, from whose brother Benjamin Heath, he took over the head mastership of Harrow in 1785. (Another of Louisa's brothers, George Heath, was Head Master of Eton College 1792–1802.)

His brother Mark Drury was Second Master at Harrow. He married Catherine Angelo, daughter of the fencing master at Eton, Domenico Angelo, and sister of the celebrated Eton Dame, Florella Angelo.

His son Henry Joseph Drury (1778–1841) was a master at Harrow, where he was tutor to Lord Byron, with whom he later became a friend a correspondent. Henry Drury married Ann Tayler, whose sister later married Francis Hodgson, Provost of Eton College. Henry Joseph's son Benjamin Heath Drury (1817–1902) was a master at Harrow.

Another of Joseph's sons, Benjamin Heath Drury (1782–1835), became an assistant-master at Eton.

References

• A history of Harrow School, 1324-1991. Christopher Tyerman. Pub. 2000.
• Dictionary of National Biography.
• Byron. John Nichol. Pub. 2007.