Benson, Edward White, Archbishop of Canterbury (1829 -1896)

Edward White Benson was born 14 July 1829, the son of Edward Benson, chemical manufacturer of Birmingham and a sister of Sir Thomas Baker of Manchester. He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham and Trinity College Cambridge, where he was admitted as a sizar 25 April 1845 and took his B.A. in 1852; his M.A. 1855; his B.D. 1862 and his D.D. in 1867. He was an Assistant Master at Rugby school 1852-1858 and a Fellow of Trinity 1853-1859. He was ordained deacon in 1853 and priest at Ely in 1857. In 1859 he married Mary daughter of William Sidgwick of Skipton in Yorkshire. In January 1859 he was appointed the first headmaster of Wellington College, a post he held until 1872. A Prebend of Lincoln 1869-1872, he became Chancellor of Lincoln Minster 1872-1877 and Bishop of Truro 25 April 1877-1883, and was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury 1883-1896. He died 11 October 1896.