Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cæsar, Henry

1904 Errata appended.

1328959Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 08 — Cæsar, Henry1886Sidney Lee ‎

CÆSAR, HENRY (1562?–1636), dean of Ely, fifth and youngest son of Cæsar Adelmare or Dalmariis, a well-known physician, and brother of Sir Julius Cæsar [q. v.], was born, according to his epitaph, in 1564, although other evidence gives the more probable date of 1562. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, ‘where to this day,’ says Wood, ‘certain lodgings are called from him Cæsar's lodgings,’ and afterwards became a member of St. Edmund Hall in the same university. While still very young, he spent some time at Cambridge, and, being suspected of popish leanings, fled beyond sea. On his return about 1583 he recanted his former errors, and became vicar of Lostwithiel in Cornwall; but in March 1584, Sir Walter Mildmay, whom he had personally affronted, directed proceedings to be taken against him on the ground of his renewed nonconformity. He was still subject to the same suspicion in 1589, when his brother, Sir Julius, entreated Lord Burghley to protect him from his assailants. A few years later all his enemies were silenced. On 6 Nov. 1595 he proceeded D.D. at Oxford; on 13 Sept. 1596 was presented by the queen to the rectory of St. Christopher, in the city of London, which he resigned in July 1597; became rector of Somersham, Huntingdonshire; and was appointed prebendary of Westminster in September 1609, and dean of Ely in October 1614. He resigned his prebend at Westminster in 1625. He died, according to his epitaph, on 27 June 1636, and was buried in Ely Cathedral, where an elaborate monument was erected to his memory. He left several bequests to the officers of the cathedral, and to friends and relations. His sole executor, Sir Charles [q. v.], son of his brother Sir Julius, was directed to apply within six months 2,000l. to the foundation of two fellowships and four scholarships (open to pupils from Ely school) in some college of his own choosing. Sir Charles chose Jesus College, Cambridge, which received annuities from the family till 1668, but never obtained the capital.

[E. Lodge's Life of Sir Julius Cæsar, with Memoirs of his Family; Bentham's Ely (1812), p. 230; Le Neve's Fasti; Wood's Fasti, ed. Bliss, i. 270–1.]

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.48
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page Col. Line
204 i 11 Cæsar, Henry: for 1 Oct. read 27 June