Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Badew, Richard

682057Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 02 — Badew, Richard1885James Bass Mullinger

BADEW, RICHARD (fl. 1320–1330), founder of University Hall, Cambridge, was descended from an ancient and knightly family which appears to have given its name to the manor of Badew or Badow, near Chelmsford, Essex, and whose representatives were owners of the manor in the reigns of the first three Edwards. Richard de Badew married Isabel, daughter of Peter Marshall, by whom he had three sons, William, Edward, and Richard. The last-named was chancellor of the university of Cambridge in the year 1326, and was noted for his zeal in the promotion of learning. It was during his tenure of office that he purchased, most probably on behalf of the university, two tenements in Milne Street, the property of a Cambridge physician named Nigellus de Thornton. And here, according to the tradition preserved by Fuller, 'he built a small college, by the name of University Hall, placing a principal therein, under whom scholars lived on their own expenses.' Scot, however, in his 'Tables of the University,' states that they were maintained at the charges of the university. Sixteen years afterwards the hall was accidentally burnt down, when it was rebuilt and endowed by Elizabeth de Clare, afterwards the wife of John de Burgh, earl of Ulster, its name being changed to Clare Hall.

[Morant's Essex, ii. 19; Fuller's History of the University of Cambridge, ed. Prickett and Wright, 83-4; Cooper's Memorials of Cambridge, i. 28.]

J. B. M.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.12
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

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385 i 7 f.e. Badew, Richard: after 1326 insert and again in 1338