Edmund Gonville
Edmund Gonville (died 1351) founded Gonville Hall in 1348, which later was re-founded by John Caius to become Gonville and Caius College. Gonville Hall was his third foundation. Before this he had founded two religious houses, a College at Rushford, Norfolk, 1342 (suppressed in 1541) and the Hospital of St John at Bishop's Lynn, Norfolk.[1] The origin of his wealth is obscure.
Edmund Gonville | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1351 |
| Known for | Founder of Gonville Hall, Cambridge |
| Parent | William de Gonvile |
His father was William Gonville, a Frenchman domiciled in England, who owned the Manor of Lerling and other property in Norfolk. William's eldest son was Sir Nicholas Gonville who married an heiress of the Lerling family.[2]
Gonville worked for King Edward III of England, including lending him money. In return he was rewarded with appointment as King's clerk (a title later known as Secretary of State).[3] After Gonville, supported by Sir Walter Manny, petitioned Edward III for permission to set up a college for 20 scholars at the University of Cambridge, permission was granted and Edward III issued Letters patent in January 1348.[3]
References
- Notes
- "Gonville, Edmund (GNVL320E)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- 'The colleges and halls: Gonville and Caius', A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge. (1959), pp. 356-362. British History Online.
- Edmund Gonville (Founder of Gonville Hall, Cambridge, 1348) , www.alchemipedia.blogspot.co.uk
- Bibliography
- C. N. L. Brooke, ‘Gonville , Edmund (d. 1351)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 8 Sept 2008
External links
- Edmund Gonville from the website of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge