Edward Dicconson 1670-1752
Edward DICCONSON 1670-1752
Biographical Note
Born into a landowning Catholic family, the third son of Hugh Dicconson, esq., of Wrightington Hall, Lancashire. His mother was Agnes Kirkby, daughter of Roger Kirkby. He was educated at the English College, Douai from 1684 until 1691. After eight years in England, he returned to his studies at Douai, taking holy orders in 1701. From 1701 to 1708 Dicconson was Procurator of the English College, before serving successively as Professor of Syntax, Poetry, Philosophy, and finally Theology. He was Vice-President of the College from 1713 until 1720, when he returned to England as chaplain at Chillington Hall, Staffordshire near Wolverhampton. He was appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of England in September 1740, and consecrated Titular Bishop of the see of Mallus in the following year. Dicconson died at his home, Finch Mill House, Lancashire on 5th May 1752.
Books
Dicconson's books reflect his teaching at Douai and the religious controversies of eighteenth century Catholicism. At least 747 printed volumes once belonging to Edward Dicconson are now in Ushaw College Library, Durham. How precisely they came to the library is unclear, though it is thought that they passed through the family of Thomas Eyre, later first President of Ushaw College.
Characteristic Markings
Dicconson used a bookplate bearing his family arms (Franks 8596), although in some cases his ownership is indicated only by his signature on the title page: ""E.Dicconson"" or ""ED"". MacGregor (2002, p. 7) notes that no bookplates appear in volumes published after 1730.
Sources
- Cooper, Thompson, and J. A. Hilton. ""Dicconson, Edward (1670–1752), vicar apostolic of the northern district."" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.
- MacGregor, A., The Library of Bishop Edward Dicconson, Ushaw, 2002.
- Information from Tom Henderson.