John Breton d.1676

John BRETON -1676

Biographical Note

Born in Leicestershire. BA Emmanuel College, Cambridge 1633, MA 1636, DD 1661. He appears to have spent most of his life in Cambridge, where high church views blocked his promotion until after the Restoration, when he was appointed Master of Emmanuel in 1664. He also held a prebend at Worcester from 1660. During his Mastership he was much occupied with planning and raising money for a new Chapel, opened just after his death in 1677.

Books

Breton bequeathed to Emmanuel (along with money towards the new Chapel) all his books not already in the College Library; the residue was to be given to his niece’s son William Hempson (later Registrar of Charterhouse, d.1739). The books received by the College were valued at £200. Examples: Emmanuel College 329.7.55, 312.5.9, and many more.

Characteristic Markings

The books given to Emmanuel were marked with a handwritten inscription.

Sources

J. Venn, Biographical history of Gonville & Caius College. Cambridge, 1897; S. Bendall et al, History of Emmanuel College Cambridge, 1999.