Lancelot Blackburne

Lancelot Blackburne (sometimes Blackburn or Blackbourne), (10 December 1658 – 23 March 1743) was an English clergyman, who became Archbishop of York, and — in popular legend — a pirate.

Church career

He returned to England during 1684, marrying Catherine Talbot (the elder sister of William Talbot) in September, and shortly thereafter took up the first of a set of church posts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1691 he became canon of Exeter, and in 1705 Dean, succeeding William Wake, whose patronage would later stand him in good stead, and in 1715 Archdeacon of Cornwall. In 1716, he travelled to Hanover as the personal chaplain to George I, and the next year became Bishop of Exeter. As Bishop, he was active in the House of Lords; among others, he supported the repeal of the Occasional Conformity Act.

Related Topics:
1691 - Canon - Exeter - 1705 - William Wake - 1715 - Archdeacon - Cornwall - 1716 - Hanover - George I - Bishop of Exeter - House of Lords - Occasional Conformity Act

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1724 he became Archbishop of York, a position he held until his death. Whilst he continued to be politically active, he often neglected his spiritual duties; he appears to have not carried out any confirmations, and stopped ordaining priests after ten years. Instead, he kept apartments in London — in Downing Street — and spent much time at the royal court.

Related Topics:
1724 - Archbishop of York - Downing Street

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His career was controversial, with rumours that he had secretly married George I to his mistress; the Dictionary of National Biography mentions "his reputation for carnality" and "the laxity of his moral precepts", whilst Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics comments that " behaviour was seldom of a standard to be expected of an archbishop. In many respects it was seldom of a standard to be expected of a pirate." One local legend in York even claimed that his butler was Dick Turpin!

Related Topics:
George I - Dictionary of National Biography - Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics - Dick Turpin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died on 23 March 1743; his wife had died in 1726, leaving no children. However, it was often claimed that he fathered Thomas Hayter; there is no conclusive evidence either way, though he did leave a sizable portion of his estate to Hayter.

Related Topics:
23 March - 1743 - 1726 - Thomas Hayter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~