Robert Johnson (rector)

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Archdeacon Robert Johnson (1540-1625) was a Puritan rector of North Luffenham for 51 years, from 1574 until his death; he was also the Archdeacon of Leicester, and using the income from these and other church posts that he was able to hold concurrently, he founded two free grammar schools, Oakham School and Uppingham School in 1584, as well as other charitable institutions. He enjoyed the patronage of the Cecil family, who built Burghley House.

[edit] Family

He was born in Stamford to Maurice and Jane Johnson, one of five (or seven) children; his father was a Member of Parliament. He married three times and had a son, Abraham, by his third wife, Maria (née Hird); through his son he had thirteen grandchildren. His grandson, Isaac, married Lady Arabella Fiennes, who gave her name to Governor John Winthrop's flagship the Arabella. Robert Johnson died on the 23rd July 1625, in North Luffenham.

[edit] Charitable works

His puritan beliefs meant he placed great importance on education, and he set up the grammar schools so that those who were too poor to pay for schooling could be taught Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The schools received charterships from Queen Elizabeth I in 1587.

Among other endowments and foundations, Archdeacon Johnson founded hospitals of Christ in Oakham and Uppingham, and re-founded and endowed the old hospital of Saint John Evangelist and Saint Anne, in Oakham. He is also named as being a founder of Jesus College, Oxford University.

A statue of the Archdeacon can be seen in Uppingham, on High Street West on the Victoria Tower, belonging to Uppingham School.