Mandell Creighton
5 July 1843 -
14 January 1901

Family

Mandell Creighton was the eldest son of Robert Creighton and Sarah Mandell. In 1872 he married Louise von Glehn, by whom he had three sons and four daughters.

Education

He was educated in the grammar school at Durham, from which he received a postmastership at Merton College, Oxford, in 1862. He graduated in 1867 with a first in literae humaniores and a second in law and history, and was elected fellow of Merton. Shortly afterwards he became a tutor. In 1884 the University of Glasgow conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D., and in the same year he became the first Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Cambridge and Fellow of Emmanuel College. He was a D.D. of both Oxford and Cambridge.

Church Appointments and Service

Creighton was ordained in 1870 and took priest's orders in 1873. In March 1875 he left Oxford to take the college living of Embleton, Northumberland. He took a prominent part in the organization of the diocese of Newcastle, and in 1882 became Bishop Wilberforce's examining chaplain. In the following year he was made honorary canon of Newcastle. In 1885 the canonry of Worcester was conferred upon him, and in 1890 he was promoted to a canonry at Windsor. In February 1891 he was elevated to the See of Peterborough. Six years later he was translated to the See of London.

Noteworthy Publications

His major literary achievement is his History of the Papacy during the Reformation, in five volumes (1882-1894). He published biographical works on Simon de Montfort (1876), Cardinal Wolsey (1888), and Queen Elizabeth (1896). In addition, he published several volumes of sermons, addresses, and lectures. He became, in 1886, the first editor of the English Historical Review, and he contributed numerous articles to the early volumes of the DNB.

Footnote

"Creighton was as much a statesman and a churchman as a historian. . . . What is, however, to be regretted is that, while he might have continued to apply his great gifts to the elucidation of history for many years, his life was undoubtedly shortened by the mental and physical strain of his work as bishop of London. . . . The extravagances of some of the ritualistic clergy were already attracting attention. . . . The bishop, by his strong common-sense and intellectual acuteness, his wide learning combined with tolerance, his knowledge of character and persuasive manners, and not least by his sense of humour, was eminently qualified to deal with this difficult situation. . . .

"Hospitably inclined, with a large circle of friends, he was always accessible, and never appeared hurried or preoccupied. His conversation was sparkling and witty, and he had a large fund of humorous anecdote." -- DNB 22: 507-13