Reverend Richard Beadon ^34,223

  General Notes:

Educated at Blundell's, Tiverton and St. John's College, Cambridge; B.A., 1758; M.A. 1761; B.D., 1769; D.D., 1780. Fellow, 1760-1773. Orator, 1768-1778. Master of Jesus, 1781-1789. Vice-Chancellor, 1781-1782. Ordained deacon (Rochester) , 21 December 1760; priest (St. David's)., 31 May 1761. Chaplain to the Bishop of St. David's and Chancellor of his diocese, 1763. Preacher at Whitehall, 1763. Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of London, 1771. Rector of Little Burstead, Essex, 1771-1775. Prebendary of St. Paul's, 1771-1802. Archdeacon of London, 1775-1789. Rector of Standford Rivers, Essex, 1775-1802. Rector of Orsett, 1775-1802. Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, 1789 - 1802; Bishop of Bath and Wells 1802 - 1824. Bishop Beadon, whilst at Bath and Wells, either by purchase or clever management of leases, contrived to get a considerable portion of the estates into his own possession, and bequeathed them to his son Richard; by whose extravagance or neglect the property has been dissipated, and been necessitated to be sold.

Found in The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 94 (1824)

Dr. Beadon, Bp. of Bath and Wells.
April 21. At his house in The Circus, Bath, aged 87, the Rt. Rev. Father in God Richard Beadon, D.D. Lord Bishop of Bath Wells. This prelate was a native of Somersetshire, and was educated at Tiverton, whence he removed to St. John's College, Cambridge. He was nearly related to the wife of Dr. John Newcome, Master of St. John's, a very learned and excellent woman, who is noticed in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. vii. p.286. Dr. Newcome, who died in 1765, appointed him one of his executors, and left him a considerable part of his fortune. In 1758 he stood high among the Wranglers for his Degree, and was also a successful candidate for one of the prizes for the best dissertation in Latin prose. Having proceeded B.A. in 1738, and M.A. 1761, he became a Fellow of St. John's College, and was appointed Orator of his University. He was presented to the Rectory of Stanford Rivers in Essex; and in 1775 appointed Archdeacon of London. He took the Degrees of B.D. 1769, and D.D. 1780. In 1781, he was elected Master of Jesus College, which he resigned in 1789. The present Duke of Gloucester having been sent to Cambridge, and entrusted to Dr. Beadon's peculiar care, his conduct secured the Royal favour, and paved the way to his subsequent high eminence in the church. His first dignity was that of Archdeacon of London; was nominated in 1789 to the See of Gloucester; and in 1802 was translated to that of Bath and Wells. He printed a Fast Sermon, preached before the House of Lords, April 19, 1793, 4to.
On the 30th April the Bishop's remains were conveyed to Wells. The body lay in state at the Palace four hours. At three o'clock the funeral procession move to the Cathedral in grand state. Major Breadon (sic), the late Bishop's son, was the chief mourner. The Rev. Archdeacon Trevelyan read the ceremony; and some of Handel's best pieces were performed. The throne and pulpit were covered with fine cloth and crape; a mourning mantle surmounted the throne. A solemn dirge was performed over the grave to great effect. The solemnity of the occasion was increased by the tolling of the great bell of the Cathedral (muffled) and by all the shops being closed. In Bath, where the memory of his lordship will be cherished with lasting affection, the bells of the churches were tolled at intervals during the day, and on Sunday in the pulpits, &c. of the different churches exhibited emblems of mourning. ^53,224,225

Richard married Rachel Gooch, daughter of Reverend John Gooch and Mary Sayer, on 19 August 1778 in Ditton.²²³ (Rachel Gooch was born on 26 September 1757 and died on 3 December 1839 in St. George's Hanover Square, London.)