John Fountayne (1714–1802) was aChurch of Englandclergyman and the longest servingDean of York.
Fountayne was the younger of two sons of John Fountayne. He was raised at Melton Hall,[1] inHigh Melton, thefamily seat which he inherited upon the death of his elder brother in 1739 and which he immediately set about substantially rebuilding.[2]
He graduated M.A. fromSt Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1739 and was later awarded a Doctorship of Divinity from the same college in 1751.[3]
Having served asprebendary ofSalisbury Cathedral from his graduation, he was first appointed aCanon atSt. George's Chapel, Windsor in 1741,[4] and was later preferred asDean of York, a position which he held from 1747 to his death in February 1802.
Noted as quite a politically astute Dean, he held on to office by moving with the political wind, as recounted by his friend, theauthor,Laurence Sterne.[5]
John Fountayne married three times, firstly to Ann Bromley, daughter ofWilliam Bromley, speaker of the House of Commons in 1744 and by whom he had no issue. Following Ann's death in 1746, he married Frances Maria Whichcote, ofHarpswell, Lincolnshire, by whom he had one daughter, also named Frances Maria.
Upon Frances' death in 1750, he thirdly married Ann Montagu, in 1754, the only daughter of Charles Montagu ofPapplewick,Nottinghamshire. This marriage produced two sons and three daughters, all of whom the except the middle daughter died unmarried. There are memorials to all these family members inMelton Church.
The second daughter from this third marriage married Richard Wilson, second son of Dr. Christopher Wilson, sometimeBishop of Bristol.[6] As a result of this marriage, the family name was changed to Fountayne-Wilson and later reverted to Montagu, following an inheritance.
He is buried inSt James' Church, High Melton, theparish church of his family estate inSouth Yorkshire, a building in which he erected several substantial familymemorials and installed much of the church'sstained glass. His own memorial stands to the south of thealtar, below which the Fountayne familyvault is sealed.[7]
Fountayne's heir was his only surviving grandson, Richard Fountayne-Wilson,[8] son of his daughter Elizabeth, who becameMember of Parliament forYorkshire between 1826 and 1830 andHigh Sheriff of Yorkshire 1807–08.[9]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
