Hough, John, Dd, 1

Hough, John, D.D., 1

A distinguished English divine, born in Middlesex in 1651, and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, of which lie was elected president in 1687, in spite of the mandamus of king James II, who endeavored to procure the election to the headship of the college first of Anthony Farmer, and then of Dr. Samuel Parker (q.v.), bishop of Oxford, both Roman Catholics in belief, and neither of them fellows of the college, as the statute required. Lord-commissioners having been sent to enforce the royal mandates on the students, Hough, together with twenty-six out of the twenty eight fellows of the college, courageously protested against their arbitrary proceedings, and refused to deliver the keys of the college. Finally, in Oct. 1687, Dr. Parker was by main force installed in Hough's place. "The nation, as well as the university, looked on all this proceeding with just indignation. It was thought an open piece of robbery and burglary, when men authorized by legal commission came forcibly and turned men out of their possession and freeholds" (bishop Burnet). "The protest of Hough was everywhere applauded; the forcing of his door was everywhere mentioned with abhorrence." Less than a year after, James II, under the pressure of political events, thought it prudent, however, to retrace his steps, and to conciliate Hough and his adherents. The former was restored to his position as president. After the Revolution, Hough became successively bishop of Oxford in 1690; of Lichfield and Coventry in 1699; and finally, after refusing the archbishopric of Canterbury, bishop of Worcester in 1717. I-le died in 1743. Hough wrote Sermons and Charges, published with a Memoir of his Life, by William Russell, B.D. etc. (Oxford 1821); and other occasional sermons. — Darling, Encyclopedia Bibliograethica, 1, 1554; Macaulay, History of England, vol. 2; Allibone, Dictionary of Authors, 1, 897; McMasters, Biog. Ind. to flume's History of England, p. 363 sq.; Stoughton (John), Eccl. Hist. of England (London 1870), 2, 133 sq.