Francis Lear (1789 in Downton, Wiltshire – 1850 in Salisbury) was Dean of Salisbury in the Church of England from 1846 until his death.^[1]

Lear was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1806, and then Magdalen College from 1809, graduating B.A. in 1810, M.A. 1813, and becoming a Fellow in 1819.^[2] He held livings in Wiltshire at Chilmark and Bishopstone (near Salisbury). He was Archdeacon of Sarum from 1836^[3] until his appointment as Dean. He died on 23 March 1850.^[4]

Lear married Isabella Mary Majendie.^[5] Their son, also named Francis, succeeded his father as rector of Bishopstone^[6] and was Archdeacon of Sarum from 1875 until his death on 1914.^[7]

Isabella paid for the construction in 1854 of All Saints' Church, East Harnham, in memory of her husband; it had been his wish to provide a church for this outlying district of the city.^[8]

References

^ DEATH OF THE DEAN OF SALISBURY. The Morning Post (London), Wednesday, March 27, 1850; p. 4; Issue 23805
^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Lear, Francis (1)" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
^ Ecclesiastical Intelligence 'The Essex Standard, and Colchester, Chelmsford, Maldon, Harwich, and General County Advertiser' (Colchester, England), Friday, December 30, 1836; Issue 313
^ Deaths. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Mar 27, 1850; pg. 9; Issue 20447
^ "Francis Lear". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
^ Baggs, A.P.; Crittall, Elizabeth; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1980). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 11 pp3-19 – Parishes: Bishopstone". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
^ "Canon Francis Lear" The Times (London, England), Friday, 20 February 1914; pg. 9; Issue 40452
^ "Church of All Saints, East Harnham, Salisbury". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 26 November 2021.

Church of England titles Preceded byLiscombe Clarke Archdeacon of Sarum 1836 –1846 Succeeded byWilliam Hony Preceded byHugh Pearson Dean of Salisbury 1846 –1850 Succeeded byHenry Hamilton

v t e Archdeacons of Sarum (or Salisbury)
High Medieval	Gunter of Le Mans¹ Robert¹ Everard of Calne¹ Hubald¹ Joel¹ Alexander of Lincoln¹ Nigel¹ Ernald Henry Jordan Savaric FitzGeldewin Azo Humphrey of Bassingbourn Stephen Nicholas de Capella Thomas Wychampton
Late Medieval	Walter Hervy Raymond de Planell Raymond Cardinal de Fargis Robert Luffenham Richard de Bury Roger de Kington Roger de Cloune Thomas Butiller William Potyn Walter FitzPiers Henry Chichele Walter Medford Simon Sydenham John Holand John Chitterne John Stafford William Alnwick Alexander Sparrow John Norton Stephen Wilton Adam Moleyns Richard Andrew Peter Cardinal Barbo Richard Caunton Roger Radclyffe William Eure Edmund Chaderton, Archdeacon of Salisbury Geoffrey Blythe George Sydenham James Bromwich Henry Rawlyns Richard Duck Edward Layton
Early modern	Robert Okinge Richard Chaundeler Ralph Pickover William Barlow Thomas Marler William Buckner Anthony Hawles Joshua Childrey John Sherman John Priaulx Thomas Lambert Joseph Kelsey John Hoadly Joseph Sager Samuel Rolleston William Whitworth Charles Daubeny Liscombe Clarke Francis Lear William Hony
Late modern	Francis Lear Harry Carpenter Percy Dale Frank McGowan Basil Wingfield Digby Nigel McCulloch Barney Hopkinson vacancy Alan Jeans
¹ — territory unspecified

v t e Deans of Salisbury
High Medieval	Walter Osbert Robert Serlo Roger Azo Robert of Chichester Henry de Beaumont John of Oxford Jordan Eustace Richard Poore Adam William de Wanda Robert de Hertford Robert Wickhampton Walter Scammel Henry Brandeston Simon de Micham
Late Medieval	Peter of Savoy William Rufati Reymund de Fargis Bertrand de Fargis Reynold Orsini James Orsini Robert Braybrooke Thomas Montagu John Chandler Simon Sydenham Thomas Brunce Nicholas Bildeston Adam Moleyns Richard Leyot Gilbert Kymer James Goldwell John Davison Edward Cheyne
Early modern	Thomas Ruthall William Atwater John Longland Cuthbert Tunstall Richard Pace Peter Vannes William Bradbridge Thomas Cole Edmund Freke John Piers John Bridges John Gordon John Williams John Bowle Edmund Mason Richard Baylie Ralph Brideoake Thomas Pierce Robert Woodward Edward Young John Younger John Clarke Thomas Greene Rowney Noel John Ekins
Late modern	Charles Talbot Hugh Pearson Francis Lear Henry Hamilton J. C. Ryle George Boyle Allan Webb William Page Roberts Andrew Burn John Randolph Edward Henderson Henry Robins Robert Moberly Kenneth Haworth Fenton Morley Sydney Evans Hugh Dickinson Derek Watson June Osborne Ed Probert (Acting) Nick Papadopulos