Richard Clayton (academic)

Richard Clayton
Born	Unknown Yorkshire, England
Died	June 10, 1676 Salisbury, England
Nationality	English
Occupation	Academic, priest
Known for	Master of University College, Oxford

An engraved aerial view of University College by David Loggan in Oxonia Illustrata (1675), during the mastership of Richard Clayton.^[1]

Richard Clayton (died 10 June 1676) was a Canon, Oxford academic and administrator. He was Master of University College, Oxford from 1665 until his death in 1676.^[2][3]

Clayton was originally from Yorkshire and matriculated at University College in 1618. In 1629, he was elected as a Percy Fellow at University College in Oxford. He was bursar of the College from 1631–34 and 1636–37. He resigned from his Fellowship in 1639 to escape from the Civil War.

Clayton's son, John, maticulated at University College in 1657.

He became a Prebendary and then Canon of Salisbury Cathedral from 1661. He spent more time in Salisbury than in Oxford.

He became Master of University College in 1665. From 1670 to the end of his Mastership, there was great concentration on rebuilding at the College. In 1670, funding for completion of the library was solicited. Between 1670–74, funds were sought for completing the main quadrangle.

During Clayton's time as Master, John Radcliffe was the pupil of Obadiah Walker, the next Master of University College. John Radcliffe was subsequently physician to the King and a major benefactor of the College, including the Radcliffe Quad, immediately to the east of the main quad.

Clayton died in Salisbury in 1676, while still Master of University College.

References

1. Loggan, David (1675). Oxonia Illustrata.
2. Carr, William, University College, Routledge, 1998. ISBN 978-0-415-18632-2. Chapter VII, From Restoration to Revolution, pages 126–131.
3. Darwall-Smith, Robin, A History of University College, Oxford. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-928429-0. Finances restored, buildings completed, pages 187–193