William Delaune 1659-1728

William DELAUNE 1659-1728

Biographical Note

Son of Benjamin Delaune, a wealthy London merchant. BA St John's College, Oxford 1679, MA 1683, BD 1688, DD 1697; he was elected president of St John's the following year, "allegedly on account of his inherited wealth" (ODNB). Prebendary of Winchester 1701, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford 1702, Lady Margaret professor of divinity 1715. As Vice-Chancellor, he became chairman of the delegates of the University Press, but when he left that office in 1706 he was said to have embezzled over £2000 of profits which should have been paid to the University, and which was eventually recovered by sequestering income from his ecclesiastical preferments. He appears to have lost his considerable fortune, mostly through gambling.

Books

Delaune's library was auctioned in London, beginning 3 November 1729, together with the books of Sir William Glynne.

Sources

• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bibliotheca Delauneana, & Glynniana, [London, 1729], ESTC t190735.
• Curthoys, J. H. "Delaune, William (1659–1728), college head." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.