William Lort Mansel (2 April 1753 – 27 June 1820) was an English churchman and Cambridge fellow. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1798 to his death in 1820, and also
Bishop of Bristol from 1808 to 1820.
Elected a fellow of Trinity in 1775, Mansel was ordained deacon in 1780 and priest in 1783. He became Vicar of
Bottisham 1783–1790, Vicar of
Chesterton in 1788 and Rector of
Fowlmere in 1789.[1]
Mansel was known as a wit, writer of epigrams,[1] and satirist of academic rivalries. His popularity led to his election as
Public Orator of Cambridge, 1788–1798.[2] Appointed Master of Trinity in 1798, Mansel served as University
Vice-Chancellor 1799–1800.[1] Appointed Bishop of Bristol in 1808 on the recommendation of his former pupil
Spencer Perceval, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer,[2] he combined the bishopric with his mastership until his death in 1820.
Lord Byron, who was a student at Trinity from 1805 to 1808,[3] described Mansel ("Magnus", for his corpulence) presiding in college:
High in the midst, surrounded by his peers,
Magnus his ample front sublime uprears:
Plac'd on his chair of state, he seems a God,
While Sophs and Freshmen tremble at his nod;
As all around sit wrapt in speechless gloom,
His voice, in thunder, shakes the sounding dome;
Denouncing dire reproach to luckless fools,
Unskill'd to plod in mathematic rules.
—
Lord Byron, Thoughts Suggested by a College Examination[4]
Mansel died in the Master's Lodge at Trinity College, Cambridge, and is interred in the College Chapel.[2]
Family
Mansel married in 1779 Isabella Haggerston(e), daughter of John Haggerston, a Cambridge attorney.[5][6] They had 13 children:[7]
Isabella Mansel (1789–1866), married the Rev. Lort Mansel, a cousin.[8]
William Lort Mansel (1790–1810), lieutenant in the Navy, died at sea.
Anne Mansel (1792–1832), married in 1819 Edward Peacock, Fellow of Trinity and cleric.[9][10]
Elizabeth Mansel (1793–1880), married in 1823 James Devereux Hustler, Fellow of Trinity and cleric.[11]
Frederick Mansel (1794)
Edward Mansel (1794) – Frederick and Edward, twins, both died in infancy.