Frederick Gell

Frederick Gell (24 September 1820 – 25 March 1902) was an eminent Anglican clergyman and Bishop of Madras 1861-1899.[1]

Gell was born in 1820,[2] the son of Philip Gell, rector of Derby. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1843.[3] Following graduation, he was appointed a Fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge,[4] and later that year ordained deacon.[5] Ordination as a priest followed the next year. In 1849, he was elected lecturer, and later dean and assistant tutor of the College.[6]

His first ecclesiastical post was as a Curate at Great St Mary's, Cambridge,[7] and in 1858 he was appointed Cambridge preacher at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall. The following year he left Cambridge to become Domestic Chaplain to Archibald Campbell Tait, Bishop of London,[8] and two years later, in 1861, he became the fourth Bishop of Madras.[9] He held the office for over a quarter of a century, until he resigned from ill-health in 1899.

Gell chose to stay in India after his resignation. He died at Culford, Coonoor, South India, on 25 March 1902.[6]