Edward Copleston
2 February 1776 -
14 October 1849

Family

Edward Copleston was the eldest son of John Bradford Copleston, rector of Offwell, in Devonshire.

Education

Copleston was educated at home until the age of fifteen, when he gained a scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Two years later, in 1793, he won the chancellor's prize for Latin hexameters. After graduating B.A. in 1795, he was invited to a fellowship at Oriel College. In 1797 he obtained his M.A. and a tutorship at Oriel, which position he held for thirteen years. In 1802 he was made Professor of Poetry at Oxford. In 1814 be became provost of Oriel, at which time the Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him.

Church Appointments and Service

In 1800 Copleston was made vicar of St. Mary's, Oxford. In 1812 he became prebendary of Huxton in St. Paul's Cathedral, and in 1826 Dean of Chester. In 1827 he was raised to the bishopric of Llandaff and to the deanery of St. Paul's.

Noteworthy Publications

The publications for which Copleston is most remembered were written in defence of Oxford pedagogy. His satiric Advice to a Young Reviewer, with a Specimen of the Art (1807) was written in response to criticism published in the British Critic, and this witty essay was followed by a series of Replies to calumnies published in the Edinburgh Review (1810-11).

Footnote

"As the bishop of Llandaff he devoted himself strenuously to the work of church restoration which was then commencing in Wales. . . . He also took care to require knowledge of the Welsh language from the clergy he instituted. . . .

"He was a high churchman, who at the same time was thoroughly opposed to the tractarians." -- DNB 4: 1099-1101