William Holmes 1689-1748

William HOLMES 1689-1748

Biographical Note

Born in London, son of Thomas Holmes. Fellow of St John's College, Oxford 1710, BA 1711, MA 1715, proctor 1721, BD 1722, DD 1725, President 1728. He also held various parochial livings in the College's patronage, and was regius professor of history 1736-42. Vice-Chancellor of Oxford 1732-35; chaplain to George II, 1734; Dean of Exeter 1742. He "seems to have supported sound learning" (ODNB) and invited Handel to perform in the Sheldonian Theatre.

Books

Holmes used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 15162); the extent of his library is not known. In his will, he left to his wife all the books which had belonged to her before their marriage; otherwise, most of his property was left to trustees, to be disposed of with the income distributed to his family, and charitable causes. He also left £100 to the University to buy books for the Bodleian Library. Examples: St John's College, Oxford HB4/3.c.6.16.

Sources

• Will of William Holmes, The National Archives PROB 11/765/13.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Hunt, William, and John D. Haigh. "Holmes, William (1689–1748), college head." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.