Ralph Ravens (c. 1553 – 1616) was an English clergyman and academic. He was nominated in 1604 as one of the translators for theAuthorised King James Version, in theSecond Oxford Company, but his status is unclear. It is said that he was substituted, for reasons unknown, and did not actually take part in the project. It has been suggested that the Second Oxford Company, in whichRichard Edes had died, had two substitutes, namelyLeonard Hutten andJohn Aglionby. On the other hand, Ravens may have taken part in early meetings as a Greek scholar.^[1][2]

FromLondon, he was educated atMerchant Taylors' School from 1571, and matriculated atSt John's College, Oxford in 1575, aged 18, becoming a fellow in the same year. He graduated B.A. on 22 June 1579, and M.A. on 29 May 1583; he proceeded B.D. on 27 October 1589, and D.D. 20 January 1596. He is mentioned as Rodolphus Ravens in theSpeculum ofJohn Case.^[3]

He was ordained in 1587, byThomas Cooper.^[4] He was vicar ofKirtlington,Oxfordshire, from 1591,Dunmow,Essex from 1597, and rector ofGreat Easton (also as Eyston Magna), Essex, from 1605.

• Joseph Foster,Alumni Oxonienses; the members of the University of Oxford, 1500–1714, vol. III (1891)
• Charles John Robinson,A register of the Scholars admitted into Merchant Taylors' School: from A. D. 1562 to 1874 vol. I (1882), p. 17

• 1553 births
• 1616 deaths
• Fellows of St John's College, Oxford
• Translators of the King James Version
• 16th-century English Anglican priests
• 17th-century English Anglican priests
• 16th-century English translators
• 17th-century English translators

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