Rev. Robert John Hodgkinson (1827-1890)

Reverend Robert John Hodgkinson was born at Newark in Nottinghamshire and christened on 20 January 1827. He graduated from St Peter’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1849, M.A. 1852). He became a Deacon in 1850 and a Prebend in 1851. From 1850 to 1855 he was the Curate of Newark, and from 1855 to 1867 he was an Assistant Master at Uppingham School, Rutland. He was the founder, and from 1868 to 1880, the Headmaster, of the Lower School at Uppingham. Throughout his time at Uppingham he was under Edward Thring, regarded as second only to Matthew Arnold amongst nineteenth-century headmasters.

The 1881 census shows him as the head of Middleton Hall, Tamworth, Warwickshire, a 'clergyman with care of souls taking pupils, M.A. St. Peter's, Cantab.' At the school on the night of the census were 5 borders, a governess and 5 servants, as well as Reverend Hodgkinson's wife, Mary, and 5 of their children, the eldest of which was 22 and the youngest 2. They were all born at Uppingham in Rutland.

Crockford's Clerical Directory of 1886 gives his address as Whatton in Nottinghamshire, while the directory of 1888 lists him living at Auckland, Richmond Hill, Surrey.

Reverend Hodgkinson ended his life as the Rector of St Helen's, Trowell, Nottinghamshire. He was appointed on 18 May 1888 - the patron of the church was Lord Middleton - and he died on 18 February 1890 at the age of 63.

Photographed by Camille Silvy in January 1863.