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

594839Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 44 — Pepys, Henry1895George Clement Boase

PEPYS, HENRY (1783–1860), bishop of Worcester, younger brother of Charles Christopher Pepys, earl of Cottenham [q. v.], was born in Wimpole Street, London, on 18 April 1783. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he graduated B.A. in 1804, and then, migrating as a fellow to St. John's College, proceeded M.A. 1807, B.D. 1814, D.D. 1840.

He was rector of Aspeden, Hertfordshire, from 12 June 1818 to 28 April 1827, and held with it the college living of Moreton, Essex, from 16 Aug. 1822 until 1840. On 3 Feb. 1826 he was appointed a prebendary of Wells, and on 31 March 1827 rector of Westmill, Hertfordshire. In politics he was a liberal. On 27 Jan. 1840 he was, on Lord Melbourne's recommendation, elevated to the bishopric of Sodor and Mann, was concrated at Whitehall on 1 March, arrived at Douglas, Isle of Man, on 27 April, was installed at St. Mary's, Castleton, on 8 May, and left the island on 4 May 1841, on his translation to the see of Worcester.

In the House of Lords, although he voted in favour of the chief liberal measures, he only spoke twice on ecclesiastical questions of small importance. Personally he was very popular, and was conscientious in the discharge of his diocesan duties. He was a generous patron of the triennial festival of the Three Choirs.

He died at Hartlebury Castle, Stourport, Worcestershire, on 13 Nov. 1860.

He married, on 27 Jan. 1824, Maria, third daughter of the Right Hon. John Sullivan, commissioner of the board of control. She died on 17 June 1885, in her ninetieth year, having had four children: (1) Philip Henry Pepys, registrar of the London court of bankruptcy; (2) Herbert George Pepys, honorary canon of Worcester; (3) Maria Louisa Pepys, who married the Rev. Edward Winningion Ingram: and (4) Emily Pepys, who married the Rev. and Hon. William Henry Lyttelton, and died on 12 Sept. 1877.

Pepys published 'The Remains of tha late Lord Viscount Royston, with a Memoir of his Life,' 1838, six charges and two single sermons.

[Berrow's Worcester Journal, 17 Nov. 1860, p.5, 24 Nov. p. 3; Gent. Mag. December 1860, p. 674; Dod's Peerage, 1860, p. 586; Times, 16 Nov. 1860, p. 12, 22 Nov. p. 12; Guardian, 21 Nov. 1860, p. 1,006; Illustr. London News, 24 Nov. 1860, p. 497.]

G. C. B.