Edmund Roberts Larken (1809–1895) was an English cleric and Christian socialist, a patron of radical causes and author on social matters. Along with other unconventional views, he was noted as possibly the first parish priest of his time to wear a beard. [1]
Larken's father, Edmund Larken (1766–1831 [2]), worked for the East India Company. His sister Eliza married William Monson, 6th Baron Monson; [3] his brother Arthur Staunton Larken (1816–1889), the third son, was known as an officer of arms, becoming Portcullis Pursuivant and then Richmond Herald. [4]
Larken matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1829, graduating B.A. in 1833, and M.A. in 1836. [5] [6] He was ordained deacon in 1833, and priest in 1834. At Oxford he considered himself a follower of Richard Whateley. [7] [8] He became rector of Burton by Lincoln, remaining there from 1843 to 1895; he was presented to the living by his brother-in-law Lord Monson. [7] In an invasion scare in 1859, a Lincolnshire rifle corps was raised and Larken was chaplain in it. [9] An unsuccessful campaign was mounted for him to become Dean of Lincoln in 1860. [10]
Larken was interested in the socialist ideas of Charles Fourier, including an account of them with one of his sermons in 1842. [11] He collaborated with John Minter Morgan on schemes for village settlement. [12] In 1847 he became chairman of a building society, of which George Boole was a director. [13] Larken and Boole also worked together in the 1850s on a plan to reduce the impact of prostitution in Lincoln. [14] Other involvements were with the Leeds Redemption Society and a co-operative flour mill. [7]
Larken worked with Matilda Mary Hays and Elizabeth Ann Ashurst on a project to translate George Sand's works into English. It came to an end in 1847 due to lack of support. [1] [15] He joined the Social Reform League in 1850 and the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge in 1851. [16] He associated with the radicals of his time, and backed The Leader financially. At his house Thomas Archer Hirst encountered George Holyoake. [17]
Larken's eldest son was a medical doctor in the Indian Army, dying at age 26. [22] The third son (born 1844) was Francis Roper, [23] who was the father of Vice-Admiral Sir Frank Larken [24] and Hubert Larken, the Archdeacon of Lincoln. [25] Other children included daughters Annie Frances [26] and Henrietta. [27]
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cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Edmund Roberts Larken (1809–1895) was an English cleric and Christian socialist, a patron of radical causes and author on social matters. Along with other unconventional views, he was noted as possibly the first parish priest of his time to wear a beard. [1]
Larken's father, Edmund Larken (1766–1831 [2]), worked for the East India Company. His sister Eliza married William Monson, 6th Baron Monson; [3] his brother Arthur Staunton Larken (1816–1889), the third son, was known as an officer of arms, becoming Portcullis Pursuivant and then Richmond Herald. [4]
Larken matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford in 1829, graduating B.A. in 1833, and M.A. in 1836. [5] [6] He was ordained deacon in 1833, and priest in 1834. At Oxford he considered himself a follower of Richard Whateley. [7] [8] He became rector of Burton by Lincoln, remaining there from 1843 to 1895; he was presented to the living by his brother-in-law Lord Monson. [7] In an invasion scare in 1859, a Lincolnshire rifle corps was raised and Larken was chaplain in it. [9] An unsuccessful campaign was mounted for him to become Dean of Lincoln in 1860. [10]
Larken was interested in the socialist ideas of Charles Fourier, including an account of them with one of his sermons in 1842. [11] He collaborated with John Minter Morgan on schemes for village settlement. [12] In 1847 he became chairman of a building society, of which George Boole was a director. [13] Larken and Boole also worked together in the 1850s on a plan to reduce the impact of prostitution in Lincoln. [14] Other involvements were with the Leeds Redemption Society and a co-operative flour mill. [7]
Larken worked with Matilda Mary Hays and Elizabeth Ann Ashurst on a project to translate George Sand's works into English. It came to an end in 1847 due to lack of support. [1] [15] He joined the Social Reform League in 1850 and the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge in 1851. [16] He associated with the radicals of his time, and backed The Leader financially. At his house Thomas Archer Hirst encountered George Holyoake. [17]
Larken's eldest son was a medical doctor in the Indian Army, dying at age 26. [22] The third son (born 1844) was Francis Roper, [23] who was the father of Vice-Admiral Sir Frank Larken [24] and Hubert Larken, the Archdeacon of Lincoln. [25] Other children included daughters Annie Frances [26] and Henrietta. [27]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)