Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Churton, William Ralph
CHURTON, WILLIAM RALPH (d. 1828), author, third son of Archdeacon Ralph Churton [q. v], received his education at Rugby, whence he removed to Lincoln College, Oxford, but was subsequently elected to a Michel exhibition at Queen's. His university career was brilliant. In 1820 he gained the chancellor's prize for Latin verse, the subject of which was 'Newtoni Systema,' in 1822 a first class in classics, a fellowship at Oriel in 1824, and in the same year the chancellor's prize for an English essay on 'Athens in the time of Pericles, and Rome in the time of Augustus.' Meanwhile he had graduated B.A. on 23 Nov. 1822, proceeding M.A. on 9 June 1825. He took orders, and after a short stay in Italy and other parts of the continent was appointed domestic chaplain to Dr. Howley, at that time bishop of London. He died of consumption on 29 Aug. 1828 at his father's rectory at Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire, when only in his twenty-seventh year. A tablet was raised to his memory by some college friends in St. Mary's Church, Oxford, and two years later a volume of his 'Remains' was issued for private circulation by his brother. Archdeacon Edward Churton [q. v.]
[Gent. Mag. ci. i. 564-6; Oxford Ten Year Book; Martin's Cat. of Privately Printed Books, 2nd edit. p. 393; Memoir prefixed to Remains.]